Political Parties
Overview
Political parties: Most visible institutions in democracy; citizens often equate democracy with
parties.
Most people critical; blame parties for divisions and problems.
Essential for representative democracies to function.
What is a Political Party?
Definition: Group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in govt;
agree on policies/programmes for collective good.
Nature: Reflects fundamental political divisions; parties are partisan (stand for part of society).
Components: Leaders, active members, followers.
Why Do We Need Political Parties?
Functions of Political Parties:
1. Contest elections - Select candidates in different ways (members choose in USA; top leaders in
India).
2. Present policies - Group vast multitude of opinions into basic positions; govt bases policies on
ruling party's line.
3. Make laws - Legislature debates/passes laws, but members follow party direction.
4. Form and run governments - Parties recruit and train leaders as ministers; run govt according to
party vision.
5. Opposition role - Parties that lose voice different views, criticize govt failures.
6. Shape public opinion - Raise/highlight issues; have lakhs of activists spread across country;
crystallize opinions on party lines.
7. Provide access - Citizens approach local party leaders more easily than govt officers; feel close
to parties; parties responsive to people's needs.
Necessity of Parties:
Without parties: Independent candidates, no policy promises, uncertain govt utility, no
accountability for national governance.
Even in non-party panchayat elections, villages split into factions with panels—acting like parties.
Directly linked to emergence of representative democracies; present in almost all countries.
How Many Parties Should We Have?
One-Party System
Only one party allowed (China, USSR under Stalin); no competition.
Not democratic: Opposition banned; no alternatives even if ruling party fails.
Two-Party System
Power alternates between two main parties (USA: Republican/Democratic; Britain:
Conservative/Labour).
Advantages: Clear choice; stable majority govt; accountability easier (voters know who to blame).
Disadvantages: Limited choices; may ignore minorities; both parties often similar on major
issues.
Multiparty System
Many parties compete for power (India, most European democracies).
Advantages: Diversity of interests represented; doesn't suppress views; coalition govt involves
multiple viewpoints.
Disadvantages: Unstable govt; coalition tensions; coalition partners blackmail for ministerial
posts; policy decisions delayed.
Conclusion:
No ideal party system for all countries; depends on:
Nature of society: Diverse vs homogeneous?
Historical divisions: Class, religion, region, language?
Cultural development: Traditions of consensus vs confrontation.
Party system evolves; India operates multiparty system suited to its diversity.
National Parties
Country-wide parties with units in various states; follow national policies.
Recognised by Election Commission: Secure 6% votes in Lok Sabha or 4 states + 4 seats.
Six recognised national parties (as of 2023):
Year
Party Leader Based on
Founded
Arvind
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Accountability, clean governance 2012
Kejriwal
Bahujan Samaj (dalits, OBCs,
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati 1984
minorities)
Bharatiya Janata Party Narendra Cultural nationalism (Hindutva),
1980
(BJP) Modi integral humanism
Communist Party of India - Sitaram
Marxism-Leninism, socialism 1964
Marxist (CPI-M) Yechury
Indian National Congress Sonia Secularism, welfare of weaker
1885
(INC) Gandhi sections
National People’s Party Conrad
Diversity, education, employment 2013
(NPP) Sangma
Key Visual: Cartoon by Tab showing numbers crunching in parties.
State/Regional Parties
Regional parties; some all-India in scope but concentrate/succeed in certain states only.
Characteristics:
Limited to 1-2 states; less organizational strength nationally.
Often represent state interests; formed based on regional aspirations/movements.
Some succeeded All-India parties failing to accommodate regional interests.
Political importance: Coalition partner in national govt; use coalition to extract state-specific
policies.
Examples of Major State Parties:
Year Key
State Party Base
Founded Achievement
Uttar Social justice, Influential in UP
Samajwadi Party 1992
Pradesh backwards classes politics
Opposition to
Rashtriya Janata OBCs, backwards
Bihar 1997 upper-caste
Dal classes
politics
Regional Stable govt in
Odisha Biju Janata Dal 1997
empowerment Odisha
Telangana statehood
Telangana Rashtra Catalyst for state
Telangana 2001 then regional
Samithi formation
autonomy
All India Anna
Tamil
West Dravida Munnetra Political
1972 linguistic/religious
Bengal Kazhagam monopoly in TN
nationalism
(AIADMK)
Sikkim Democratic Regional interests, Stable regional
Sikkim 1993
Front small state concerns govt
Impact:
Strengthened federalism: Ensure national parties respect state autonomy.
Coalition compulsion: National parties must form alliances; increases multiple-party
representation in govt.
Parliamentary diversity: Opposition includes diverse voices; accountability improves with varied
scrutiny.
Key Visual: Map of state parties (not to scale).
Challenges to Political Parties
1. Lack of Internal Democracy
Power concentrated in one/few top leaders.
No membership registers, organizational meetings, regular internal elections.
Ordinary members lack information/means to influence decisions.
Personal loyalty to leader more important than party principles.
2. Dynastic Succession
No open/transparent procedures for rising in party.
Leaders favor family members/close associates.
Top positions controlled by one family (e.g., Congress, regional parties).
Unfair to party workers; bad for democracy (unprepared people in power).
3. Growing Role of Money and Muscle Power
Parties focused on winning elections use short-cuts.
Nominate candidates who have/can raise lots of money.
Rich people/companies funding parties have influence on policies.
Some parties support criminals who can win elections.
Concern: Increasing role of rich/big companies in democratic politics.
4. Lack of Meaningful Choice
Parties not significantly different.
Declining ideological differences among major parties (e.g., Labour/Conservative in Britain differ
only in details).
Same leaders shift between parties.
Voters with different policy preferences have no option.
How Can Parties Be Reformed?
Existing Legal Measures:
Anti-defection law (10th Schedule): MLAs/MPs changing parties lose seat; reduced defection
but limited dissent.
Supreme Court order: Candidates file affidavits on property/criminal cases; increases
transparency but no verification system.
Election Commission order: Parties hold organizational elections, file IT returns; sometimes
mere formality.
Suggested Reforms:
Regulation: Law regulating internal affairs—membership registers, follow constitution,
independent authority for disputes, open elections to top posts.
Women's quota: Minimum 1/3 tickets to women; quota in decision-making bodies.
State funding: Govt gives parties money (in kind or cash) for elections to reduce money
influence.
Challenges:
Over-regulation counter-productive; parties find ways to cheat.
Parties won't pass laws they dislike.
Alternative approaches:
Public pressure: Petitions, publicity, agitations; citizens, pressure groups, media can force
reforms.
Join parties: More/better citizen participation improves quality of democracy; solve bad
politics with more/better politics.