St.

Aloysius College Jabalpur

Madhya Pradesh

SUBJECT: Political Science

PROJECT ON: POLITICAL PARTIES IN INDIA

SUBMITTED TO:

D r. V is h w a s s ir

SUBMITTED BY:

S h riy a n s h P a te l

M .A 1 st SEMESTER

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I w ould like to give spe cia l tha nks to P ro fesso r. [Link] Sir w h o g a ve m e

the go ld en o p po rtunity to d o this p ro jec t o n this c a se w hic h he lp e d m e in

d oing a lo t of rese a rch a nd I ca m e to kno w a bo ut so m a ny ne w th ing s I a m

re a lly tha nkful to her. Sec o ndly I w o uld like to th a nks m y p a rents a nd friend

w ho he lpe d m e a lo t in fina lizing this p ro jec t w ithin the lim ite d tim e fit.

… … … … …… … … …

Shriya nsh P a te l

M .A

1 st S E M E S T E R

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. IN T R O D U C T IO N

2 . F U N C T IO N S

3. N A TIO N A L P A R TIES

4. STA TE P A R TIE S

5 . H O W C A N P A R TIE S B E R E FO R M E D ?

6. . C O N C LU SIO N

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 INTRODUCTION

W e n o t ic ed th e ro le o f p o litic a l p a rtie s in t h e ris e o f d e m o c ra c ie s , in th e fo rm a t io n

o f c o n s tit u tio n a l d es ig n s , in ele c to ra l p o litic s a n d in th e m a k in g a n d w o rk in g o f

g o v ern m en t s . In th is tex tb o o k , w e h a ve g la n c ed a t p o litic a l p a rtie s a s v eh ic le s o f

fed era l s h a rin g o f p o litic a l p o w er a n d a s n e g o tia t o rs o f s o c ia l d iv is io n s in th e a re n a

o f d e m o c ra tic p o lit ic s . B efo re c o n c lu d in g t h is to u r, le t u s ta k e a c lo s e lo o k a t t h e

n a tu re a n d w o rk in g o f p o litic a l p a rt ies , e s p e c ia lly in o u r c o u n t ry . W e b e g in b y a s k in g

tw o c o m m o n q u es tio n s : W h y d o w e n e ed p a rties ? H o w m a n y p a rties a re g o o d fo r a

d em o c ra c y ? In th e lig h t o f th e s e, w e in tro d u c e th e n a tio n a l a n d reg io n a l p o litic a l

p a rtie s in to d a y ’s In d ia a n d t h en lo o k a t w h a t is w ro n g w ith p o litic a l p a rt ies a n d w h a t

c a n b e d o n e a b o u t it.

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 WHY DO WE NEED POLITICAL PARTIES?

P o litic a l p a rtie s a re e a s ily o n e o f t h e m o s t vis ib le in s tit u tio n s in a d e m o c ra c y . F o r

m o s t o rd in a ry c itiz en s , d em o c ra c y is e q u a l to p o lit ic a l p a rties . If y o u tra v el to re m o te

p a rts o f o u r c o u n t ry a n d s p ea k to th e le s s ed u c a t ed c itiz en s , y o u c o u ld c o m e a c ro s s

p eo p le w h o m a y n o t k n o w a n y th in g a b o u t o u r C o n s tit u tio n o r a b o u t th e n a tu re o f o u r

g o v ern m en t . B u t c h a n c es a re t h a t t h ey w o u ld k n o w s o m e th in g a b o u t o u r p o litic a l

p a rtie s .A t th e s a m e t im e th is vis ib ility d o es n o t m ea n p o p u la rit y . M o s t p eo p le t en d

to b e v ery c ritic a l o f p o litic a l p a rt ies . T h ey t en d to b la m e p a rties fo r a ll th a t is w ro n g

w it h o u r d em o c ra c y a n d o u r p o lit ic a l life . P a rt ies h a ve b ec o m e id e n tifie d w ith s o c ia l

a n d p o lit ic a l d ivis io n s . T h ere fo re, it is n a t u ra l to a s k – d o w e n e ed p o litic a l p a rt ies a t

a ll? A b o u t h u n d re d y e a rs a g o th e re w e re few c o u n tries o f th e w o rld t h a t h a d a n y

p o litic a l p a rty . N o w th e re a re few th a t d o n o t h a v e p a rt ies . W h y d id p o litic a l p a rt ies

b ec o m e s o o m n ip re s en t in d em o c ra c ies a ll o v er th e w o rld ? Le t u s firs t a n s w e r w h a t

p o litic a l p a rties a re a n d w h a t t h ey d o , b e fo re w e s a y w h y w e n ee d th em .

MEANING

A p o lit ic a l p a rty is a g ro u p o f p e o p le w h o c o m e to g e th e r t o c o n tes t elec tio n s a n d

h o ld p o w e r in th e g o ve rn m en t. T h ey a g re e o n s o m e p o lic ie s a n d p ro g ra m m e s fo r th e

s o c ie ty w ith a vie w t o p ro m o te th e c o llec tiv e g o o d . S in c e t h ere c a n b e d iffe ren t

view s o n w h a t is g o o d fo r a ll, p a rtie s try to p e rs u a d e p e o p le w h y t h eir p o lic ie s a re

b ett er th a n o th e rs . T h e y s e ek t o im p lem en t th e s e p o lic ies b y w in n in g p o p u la r

s u p p o rt th ro u g h ele c tio n s . T h u s , p a rtie s re flec t fu n d a m e n ta l p o lit ic a l d ivis io n s in a

s o c ie ty . P a rtie s a re a b o u t a p a rt o f t h e s o c iety a n d th u s in v o lve P A R T IS A N S H IP .

T h u s a p a rty is k n o w n b y w h ic h p a rt it s ta n d s fo r, w h ic h p o lic ies it s u p p o rt s a n d

w h o s e in te re s ts it u p h o ld s . A p o lit ic a l p a rty h a s th re e c o m p o n e n ts :

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 FUNCTIONS

W h a t d o es a p o litic a l p a rty d o ? B a s ic a lly , p o litic a l p a rt ies fill p o litic a l o ffic es a n d

e xe rc is e p o litic a l p o w er. P a rt ies d o s o b y p e rfo rm in g a s e rie s o f fu n c t io n s : 1 P a rties

c o n te s t ele c t io n s . In m o s t d em o c ra c ies , e lec tio n s a re fo u g h t m a in ly a m o n g th e

c a n d id a te s p u t u p b y p o lit ic a l p a rties . P a rtie s s elec t t h eir c a n d id a te s in d ifferen t

w a y s . In s o m e c o u n trie s , s u c h a s th e U S A , m e m b ers a n d s u p p o rte rs o f a p a rty

c h o o s e its c a n d id a t es . N o w m o re a n d m o re c o u n t rie s a re fo llo w in g th is m e th o d . In

o th er c o u n trie s lik e In d ia , to p p a rt y lea d e rs c h o o s e c a n d id a tes fo r c o n te s tin g

e lec tio n s .

2. P a rt ies p u t fo rw a rd d iffe re n t p o lic ies a n d p ro g ra m m e s a n d th e v o te rs c h o o s e

fro m t h em . E a c h o f u s m a y h a ve d iffe re n t o p in io n s a n d vie w s o n w h a t p o lic ie s a re

s u it a b le fo r th e s o c iety . B u t n o g o v ern m en t c a n h a n d le s u c h a la rg e v a riety o f v iew s .

In a d em o c ra c y , a la rg e n u m b er o f s im ila r o p in io n s h a ve to b e g ro u p e d to g e th e r t o

p ro v id e a d irec tio n in w h ic h p o lic ies c a n b e fo rm u la te d b y t h e g o v ern m e n ts . T h is is

w h a t th e p a rtie s d o . A p a rty re d u c es a va s t m u lt itu d e o f o p in io n s in to a fe w b a s ic

p o s it io n s w h ic h it s u p p o rts . A g o v ern m en t is ex p e c te d to b a s e its p o lic ie s o n th e

lin e t a k en b y t h e R U LIN G P A R T Y .

3. P a rties p la y a d e c is ive ro le in m a k in g la w s fo r a c o u n try . F o rm a lly, la w s a re

d eb a te d a n d p a s s ed in th e le g is la tu re . B u t s in c e m o s t o f t h e m em b e rs b elo n g to a

p a rty , th e y g o b y t h e d irec tio n o f th e p a rty le a d ers h ip , irre s p e c tive o f th eir p ers o n a l

o p in io n s .

4. P a rt ie s fo rm a n d ru n g o ve rn m e n ts . A s w e n o te d la s t y e a r, th e b ig p o lic y d ec is io n s
a re ta k e n b y p o litic a l e xe c u t ive th a t c o m es fro m th e p o lit ic a l p a rtie s . P a rt ies re c ru it

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
le a d e rs , tra in t h em a n d th e n m a k e th e m m in is t ers to ru n th e g o ve rn m e n t in th e w a y

th e y w a n t .

5. T h o s e p a rtie s th a t lo s e in t h e e le c tio n s p la y th e ro le o f o p p o s itio n to t h e p a rt ies

in p o w er, b y v o ic in g d ifferen t vie w s a n d c rit ic is in g g o ve rn m en t fo r its fa ilu re s o r

w ro n g p o lic ie s . O p p o s it io n p a rtie s a ls o m o b ilis e o p p o s itio n to th e g o v ern m e n t.

6. P a rties s h a p e p u b lic o p in io n . T h ey ra is e a n d h ig h lig h t is s u e s . P a rt ies h a ve la k h s

o f m e m b e rs a n d a c tivis t s s p rea d a ll o v er th e c o u n t ry . M a n y o f th e p re s s u re g ro u p s

a re th e e xt en s io n s o f p o lit ic a l p a rties a m o n g d iffere n t s ec tio n s o f s o c iet y . P a rt ies

s o m et im e s a ls o la u n c h m o v em en t s fo r th e re s o lu tio n o f p ro b lem s fa c e d b y p eo p le.

O ften o p in io n s in th e s o c ie ty c ry s ta llis e o n th e lin e s p a rtie s t a k e.

7. P a rties p ro vid e p e o p le a c c e s s to g o v ern m en t m a c h in e ry a n d w e lfa re s c h em e s

im p le m e n te d b y g o v ern m e n ts . F o r a n o rd in a ry c it iz en it is ea s y t o a p p ro a c h a lo c a l

p a rty lea d er th a n a g o ve rn m en t o ffic er. T h a t is w h y , th e y fee l c lo s e to p a rtie s ev en

w h e n th e y d o n o t fu lly t ru s t t h em . P a rt ies h a ve to b e res p o n s ive to p e o p le ’s n e ed s

a n d d e m a n d s . O th e rw is e p eo p le c a n re jec t t h o s e p a rtie s in th e n ex t e le c t io n s .

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 Necessity

T h is lis t o f fu n c tio n s in a s en s e a n s w ers th e q u e s tio n a s k e d a b o ve : w e n e ed p o litic a l

p a rtie s b ec a u s e th e y p e rfo rm a ll t h es e fu n c t io n s . B u t w e s t ill n ee d t o a s k w h y

m o d e rn d e m o c ra c ie s c a n n o t ex is t w ith o u t p o litic a l p a rtie s . W e c a n u n d ers ta n d th e

n e c e s s ity o f p o litic a l p a rties b y im a g in in g a s it u a tio n w ith o u t p a rties . E ve ry

c a n d id a te in th e ele c tio n s w ill b e in d e p e n d e n t. S o n o o n e w ill b e a b le to m a k e a n y

p ro m is e s to th e p eo p le a b o u t a n y m a jo r p o lic y c h a n g e s .

T h e g o v ern m en t m a y b e fo rm e d , b u t it s u tility w ill re m a in ev er u n c e rta in . E lec ted

re p res e n ta tive s w ill b e a c c o u n t a b le to t h eir c o n s titu en c y fo r w h a t th e y d o in th e

lo c a lity . B u t n o o n e w ill b e res p o n s ib le fo r h o w t h e c o u n try w ill b e ru n . W e c a n a ls o

th in k a b o u t it b y lo o k in g a t t h e n o n -p a rty b a s ed e lec tio n s t o t h e p a n c h a y a t in m a n y

s ta t es . A lth o u g h , th e p a rtie s d o n o t c o n tes t fo rm a lly , it is g e n era lly n o tic e d t h a t t h e

villa g e g e ts s p lit in to m o re t h a n o n e fa c tio n , ea c h o f w h ic h p u ts u p a ‘p a n e l’ o f it s

c a n d id a te s . T h is is ex a c t ly w h a t th e p a rty d o es . T h a t is th e rea s o n w e fin d p o litic a l

p a rtie s in a lm o s t a ll c o u n t rie s o f th e w o rld , w h et h er th e s e c o u n tries a re b ig o r s m a ll,

o ld o r n ew , d e ve lo p ed o r d ev elo p in g .

T h e ris e o f p o litic a l p a rt ies is d ire c tly lin k e d to th e e m erg e n c e o f re p re s e n ta tiv e

d em o c ra c ies . A s w e h a v e s e en , la rg e s o c ieties n e e d rep re s en ta t iv e d em o c ra c y . A s

s o c ie tie s b ec a m e la rg e a n d c o m p lex , th e y a ls o n e ed ed s o m e a g e n c y to g a t h er

d iffe re n t v ie w s o n va rio u s is s u e s a n d to p res e n t t h es e to t h e g o v ern m e n t. T h e y

n e ed ed s o m e w a y s , to b rin g va rio u s re p res e n ta tive s to g e th e r s o th a t a res p o n s ib le

g o v ern m en t c o u ld b e fo rm ed . T h ey n e e d e d a m e c h a n is m to s u p p o rt o r re s tra in th e

g o v ern m en t , m a k e p o lic ie s , ju s t ify o r o p p o s e th e m . P o lit ic a l p a rties fu lfill t h es e

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
n e ed s th a t ev ery re p res e n ta tive g o ve rn m en t h a s . W e c a n s a y th a t p a rt ie s a re a

n e c e s s a ry c o n d itio n fo r a d e m o c ra c y .

Popular in political parties participation

It is o ft en s a id th a t p o lit ic a l p a rtie s a re fa c in g a c ris is b e c a u s e th e y a re v ery

u n p o p u la r a n d th e c it ize n s a re in d iffe ren t to p o litic a l p a rt ies . T h e a v a ila b le ev id en c e

s h o w s th a t th is b e lie f is o n ly p a rt ly t ru e fo r In d ia . T h e e vid en c e , b a s e d o n a s eries o f

la rg e s a m p le s u rv ey s c o n d u c te d o ve r s e ve ra l d e c a d e s , s h o w s th a t: l P o lit ic a l p a rtie s

d o n o t en jo y m u c h tru s t a m o n g th e p e o p le in S o u t h A s ia . T h e p ro p o rtio n o f th o s e

w h o s a y t h eir tru s t in p o lit ic a l p a rtie s is ‘n o t m u c h ’ o r ‘n o t a t a ll’ is m o re th a n th o s e

w h o h a v e ‘s o m e’ o r ‘g rea t ’ tru s t. l T h e s a m e is tru e o f m o s t o th e r d e m o c ra c ie s a s

w e ll. P o lit ic a l p a rtie s a re o n e o f t h e lea s t tru s ted in s t itu t io n s a ll o v er th e w o rld . l Y et

th e le ve l o f p a rtic ip a tio n in th e a c t ivitie s o f p o lit ic a l p a rtie s w a s fa irly h ig h . T h e

p ro p o rtio n o f th o s e w h o s a id th e y w e re m e m b e rs o f s o m e p o lit ic a l p a rty w a s h ig h er

in In d ia t h a n m a n y a d v a n c e d c o u n tries lik e C a n a d a , J a p a n , S p a in a n d S o u t h K o re a .

O ve r t h e la s t t h ree d ec a d e s th e p ro p o rtio n o f th o s e w h o re p o rt to b e m em b e rs o f

p o litic a l p a rties in In d ia h a s g o n e u p s te a d ily . l T h e p ro p o rtio n o f th o s e w h o s a y th e y

fee l ‘c lo s e to a p o litic a l p a rty ’ h a s a ls o g o n e u p in In d ia in th is p e rio d .

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 NATIONAL PARTIES

D em o c ra c ies th a t fo llo w a fed era l s y s te m a ll o ve r t h e w o rld te n d t o h a ve tw o k in d s

o f p o lit ic a l p a rtie s : p a rt ies th a t a re p res e n t in o n ly o n e o f th e fed era l u n it s a n d

p a rtie s t h a t a re p re s en t in s e ve ra l o r a ll u n its o f th e fe d e ra tio n . T h is is t h e c a s e in

In d ia a s w e ll. T h ere a re s o m e c o u n try w id e p a rt ies , w h ic h a re c a lled ‘n a t io n a l p a rties ’.

T h e s e p a rt ies h a ve th e ir u n its in v a rio u s s ta t es . B u t b y a n d la rg e, a ll th e s e u n its

fo llo w th e s a m e p o lic ies , p ro g ra m m e s a n d s tra t eg y th a t is d e c id ed a t th e n a tio n a l

le ve l. E ve ry p a rty in th e c o u n t ry h a s t o reg is t er w ith th e E lec tio n C o m m is s io n . W h ile

th e C o m m is s io n t re a ts a ll p a rtie s e q u a lly , it o ffers s o m e s p e c ia l fa c ilitie s t o la rg e

a n d es t a b lis h ed p a rties . T h e s e p a rt ie s a re g ive n a u n iq u e s y m b o l – o n ly th e o ffic ia l

c a n d id a te s o f th a t p a rty c a n u s e th a t ele c tio n s y m b o l. P a rties t h a t g et th is p rivileg e

a n d s o m e o th e r s p e c ia l fa c ilities a re ‘re c o g n is e d ’ b y th e E lec tio n C o m m is s io n fo r

th is p u rp o s e. T h a t is w h y th e s e p a rtie s a re c a lle d , ‘rec o g n is e d p o litic a l p a rtie s ’. T h e

E lec tio n C o m m is s io n h a s la id d o w n d e ta iled c rite ria o f t h e p ro p o rt io n o f v o t es a n d

s e a ts th a t a p a rt y m u s t g e t in o rd e r t o b e a re c o g n is ed p a rty . A p a rt y th a t s ec u re s a t

le a s t s ix p er c e n t o f t h e t o t a l v o te s in a n e lec tio n t o t h e L e g is la tiv e A s s e m b ly o f a

S ta t e a n d w in s a t le a s t tw o s e a ts is re c o g n is ed a s a S ta te p a rty . A p a rt y th a t s ec u re s

a t lea s t s ix p e r c e n t o f th e to ta l vo te s in L o k S a b h a ele c t io n s o r A s s em b ly e le c t io n s

in fo u r S ta te s a n d w in s a t lea s t fo u r s ea t s in t h e L o k S a b h a is rec o g n is ed a s a

n a tio n a l p a rty . A c c o rd in g to t h is c la s s ific a tio n , th e re w e re s ev en rec o g n is e d n a tio n a l

p a rtie s in th e c o u n try in 2 0 1 8 . Le t u s lea rn s o m et h in g a b o u t ea c h o f th es e p a rties .

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) :

L a u n c h e d o n 1 J a n u a ry 1 9 9 8 u n d e r t h e lea d ers h ip o f M a m a ta B a n erjee . R e c o g n is ed

a s a n a tio n a l p a rt y in 2 0 1 6 . T h e p a rt y ’s s y m b o l is flo w e rs a n d g ra s s . C o m m it te d t o

s e c u la ris m a n d fe d e ra lis m . H a s b e en in p o w e r in W es t B en g a l s in c e 2 0 1 1 . A ls o h a s

a p re s en c e in A ru n a c h a l P ra d e s h , M a n ip u r a n d T rip u ra . In th e G en e ra l E lec tio n s h e ld

in 2 0 1 9 , it g o t 4 .0 7 p e r c e n t v o te s a n d w o n 2 2 s ea ts , m a k in g it th e fo u rth la rg e s t

p a rty in th e L o k S a b h a .

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP):

F o rm e d in 1 9 8 4 u n d e r t h e lea d ers h ip o f K a n s h i R a m . S e ek s t o rep re s en t a n d s ec u re

p o w e r fo r t h e b a h u ja n s a m a j w h ic h in c lu d es t h e d a lits , a d iva s is , O B C s a n d re lig io u s

m in o ritie s . D ra w s in s p ira tio n fro m t h e id e a s a n d te a c h in g s o f S a h u M a h a ra j,

M a h a t m a P h u le, P e riya r R a m a s w a m i N a ic k e r a n d B a b a s a h e b A m b ed k a r. S t a n d s fo r

th e c a u s e o f s e c u rin g th e in te re s ts a n d w e lfa re o f th e d a lits a n d o p p re s s ed p eo p le.

It h a s its m a in b a s e in t h e s t a te o f U tt a r P ra d e s h a n d s u b s ta n tia l p re s en c e in

n e ig h b o u rin g s ta t es lik e M a d h y a P ra d es h , C h h a tt is g a rh , U tta ra k h a n d , D elh i a n d

P u n ja b . F o rm ed g o v ern m en t in U t ta r P ra d es h s e ve ra l tim es b y ta k in g th e s u p p o rt o f

d iffe re n t p a rt ies a t d ifferen t tim es . In t h e L o k S a b h a ele c t io n s h eld in 2 0 1 9 , it p o lled

a b o u t 3 .6 3 p e r c en t vo te s a n d s ec u re d 1 0 s ea t s in t h e lo k s a b h a .

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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP):

F o u n d e d in 1 9 8 0 b y rev ivin g t h e ers t w h ile B h a ra tiy a J a n a S a n g h , fo rm ed b y S y a m a

P ra s a d M u k h erje e in 1 9 5 1 . W a n t s to b u ild a s tro n g a n d m o d ern In d ia b y d ra w in g

in s p ira t io n fro m In d ia ’s a n c ie n t c u ltu re a n d v a lu e s ; a n d D ee n d a y a l U p a d h y a y a ’s

id ea s o f in teg ra l h u m a n is m a n d A n ty o d a y a . C u ltu ra l n a t io n a lis m (o r ‘H in d u tv a ’) is a n

im p o rta n t e lem en t in its c o n c ep tio n o f In d ia n n a tio n h o o d a n d p o lit ic s . W a n t s fu ll

te rrito ria l a n d p o litic a l in te g ra tio n o f J a m m u a n d K a s h m ir w ith In d ia , a u n ifo rm c iv il

c o d e fo r a ll p eo p le livin g in th e c o u n try irres p ec tive o f relig io n , a n d b a n o n re lig io u s

c o n v ers io n s . Its s u p p o rt b a s e in c rea s e d s u b s ta n tia lly in t h e 1 9 9 0 s . E a rlie r lim it ed to

n o rth a n d w es t a n d to u rb a n a re a s , th e p a rty e xp a n d ed its s u p p o rt in th e s o u th , ea s t ,

th e n o rth -e a s t a n d to ru ra l a rea s . C a m e t o p o w er in 1 9 9 8 a s th e le a d er o f t h e

N a t io n a l D em o c ra tic A llia n c e (N D A ) in c lu d in g s e ve ra l reg io n a l p a rties . E m e rg e d a s

th e la rg e s t p a rt y w it h 3 0 3 m e m b ers in t h e 2 0 1 9 Lo k S a b h a e lec tio n s . C u rre n tly lea d s

th e ru lin g N D A g o ve rn m e n t a t th e C en t re .

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (CPI):

F o rm e d in 1 9 2 5 . B e lie ve s in M a rx is m -L en in is m , s e c u la ris m a n d d e m o c ra c y .

O p p o s e d to th e fo rc e s o f s ec es s io n is m a n d c o m m u n a lis m . A c c e p t s p a rlia m en ta ry

d em o c ra c y a s a m ea n s o f p ro m o t in g th e in te re s ts o f th e w o rk in g c la s s , fa rm ers a n d

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
th e p o o r. B e c a m e w ea k a ft er th e s p lit in th e p a rty in 1 9 6 4 th a t led to t h e fo rm a t io n

o f th e C P I(M ). S ig n ific a n t p res e n c e in t h e s ta te s o f K era la , W es t B en g a l, P u n ja b ,

A n d h ra P ra d es h a n d T a m il N a d u . It s s u p p o rt b a s e h a d g ra d u a lly d ec lin e d o v er th e

y ea rs . It s e c u red le s s th a n 1 p er c en t vo te s a n d 2 s e a t s in t h e 2 0 1 9 Lo k S a b h a

e lec tio n s . A d v o c a te s th e c o m in g t o g et h er o f a ll left p a rt ies to b u ild a s tro n g le ft

fro n t.

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA - MARXIST (CPI-M):

F o u n d e d in 1 9 6 4 . B e lie ve s in M a rx is m Le n in is m . S u p p o rts s o c ia lis m , s ec u la ris m a n d

d em o c ra c y a n d o p p o s es im p eria lis m a n d c o m m u n a lis m . A c c e p t s d e m o c ra tic

e lec tio n s a s a u s efu l a n d h elp fu l m ea n s fo r s e c u rin g th e o b jec tiv e o f s o c io e c o n o m ic

ju s tic e in In d ia . E n jo y s s tro n g s u p p o rt in W es t B e n g a l, K era la a n d T rip u ra , e s p e c ia lly

a m o n g th e p o o r, fa c t o ry w o rk ers , fa rm e rs , a g ric u ltu ra l la b o u rers a n d th e

in t ellig e n ts ia . C ritic a l o f th e n e w e c o n o m ic p o lic ie s th a t a llo w free flo w o f fo re ig n

c a p it a l a n d g o o d s in to th e c o u n t ry . W a s in p o w er in W e s t B en g a l w ith o u t a b re a k fo r

3 4 y e a rs . In t h e 2 0 1 9 Lo k S a b h a e lec tio n s , it w o n a b o u t 1 .7 5 p er c en t o f v o t es a n d 3

s e a ts .

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC):

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P o p u la rly k n o w n a s th e C o n g re s s P a rt y . O n e o f th e o ld e s t p a rt ies o f t h e w o rld .

F o u n d e d in 1 8 8 5 a n d h a s ex p e rie n c e d m a n y s p lit s . P la y e d a d o m in a n t ro le in In d ia n

p o litic s a t th e n a tio n a l a n d s t a te lev el fo r s ev era l d ec a d e s a fte r In d ia ’s

In d e p e n d en c e. U n d e r t h e lea d ers h ip o f J a w a h a rla l N e h ru , th e p a rty s o u g h t t o b u ild a

m o d e rn s ec u la r d e m o c ra t ic re p u b lic in In d ia . R u lin g p a rty a t th e c en t re till 1 9 7 7 a n d

th e n fro m 1 9 8 0 to 1 9 8 9 . A fte r 1 9 8 9 , its s u p p o rt d e c lin ed , b u t it c o n tin u es t o b e

p res e n t th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try , c u tt in g a c ro s s s o c ia l d ivis io n s . A c en t ris t p a rty

(n eith e r rig h t is t n o r leftis t) in its id e o lo g ic a l o rie n ta tio n , th e p a rty es p o u s e s

s e c u la ris m a n d w elfa re o f w e a k er s ec tio n s a n d m in o rities . T h e IN C s u p p o rts n e w

e c o n o m ic refo rm s b u t w it h a h u m a n fa c e . Le a d er o f t h e U n it ed P ro g res s ive A llia n c e

(U P A ) g o v ern m e n t fro m 2 0 0 4 to 2 0 1 9 . In t h e 2 0 1 9 L o k S a b h a e le c t io n it w o n 5 2

s e a ts .

NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY (NCP):

F o rm e d in 1 9 9 9 fo llo w in g a s p lit in th e C o n g re s s p a rty . E s p o u s es d e m o c ra c y ,

G a n d h ia n s ec u la ris m , e q u it y , s o c ia l ju s t ic e a n d fed era lis m . W a n ts th a t h ig h o ffic e s

in g o ve rn m e n t b e c o n fin e d t o n a tu ra l b o rn c it ize n s o f th e c o u n try . A m a jo r p a rty in

M a h a ra s h tra a n d h a s a s ig n ific a n t p re s e n c e in M eg h a la y a , M a n ip u r a n d A s s a m . A

c o a litio n p a rtn e r in th e s ta t e o f M a h a ra s h tra in a llia n c e w ith th e C o n g res s . S in c e

2 0 0 4 , a m em b e r o f th e U n ite d P ro g res s iv e A llia n c e .

STATE PARTIES

O th e r th a n th e s e s e ve n p a rties , m o s t o f t h e m a jo r p a rtie s o f th e c o u n try a re

c la s s ifie d b y t h e E le c tio n C o m m is s io n a s ‘S t a te p a rtie s ’. T h e s e a re c o m m o n ly

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re ferred to a s reg io n a l p a rt ies . Y et th e s e p a rtie s n ee d n o t b e reg io n a l in th eir

id eo lo g y o r o u tlo o k . S o m e o f t h es e p a rtie s a re a ll In d ia p a rtie s th a t h a p p e n to h a v e

s u c c e ed ed o n ly in s o m e s t a tes . P a rtie s lik e t h e S a m a jw a d i P a rty a n d R a s h triy a

J a n a ta D a l h a ve n a t io n a l le ve l p o litic a l o rg a n is a t io n w ith u n its in s e ve ra l s t a te s .

S o m e o f t h es e p a rties lik e B iju J a n a ta D a l, S ik k im D e m o c ra tic F ro n t, M izo N a t io n a l

F ro n t a n d T e la n g a n a R a s h tra S a m ith i a re c o n s c io u s a b o u t th e ir S ta te id e n tity .

CHALLENGES TO POLITICAL PARTIES

The first challenge is la c k o f in te rn a l d e m o c ra c y w ith in p a rtie s . A ll o ve r th e w o rld

th e re is a te n d e n c y in p o litic a l p a rties t o w a rd s th e c o n c e n tra tio n o f p o w e r in o n e o r

few le a d e rs a t th e to p . P a rtie s d o n o t k ee p m em b e rs h ip reg is te rs , d o n o t h o ld

o rg a n is a tio n a l m ee tin g s , a n d d o n o t c o n d u c t in t ern a l e lec tio n s reg u la rly . O rd in a ry

m e m b ers o f th e p a rty d o n o t g e t s u ffic ien t in fo rm a t io n o n w h a t h a p p en s in s id e t h e

p a rty . T h e y d o n o t h a ve th e m e a n s o r t h e c o n n ec tio n s n e ed ed to in flu en c e t h e

d ec is io n s . A s a re s u lt th e lea d e rs a s s u m e g re a te r p o w e r to m a k e d e c is io n s in t h e

n a m e o f th e p a rty . S in c e o n e o r fe w le a d e rs ex erc is e p a ra m o u n t p o w er in t h e p a rt y ,

th o s e w h o d is a g re e w it h th e le a d e rs h ip fin d it

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
The second challenge o f d y n a s tic s u c c e s s io n is rela t ed to th e firs t o n e. S in c e m o s t

p o litic a l p a rties d o n o t p ra c t ic e o p e n a n d tra n s p a ren t p ro c ed u re s fo r th e ir

fu n c t io n in g , t h ere a re v ery few w a y s fo r a n o rd in a ry w o rk er to ris e t o th e to p in a

p a rty . T h o s e w h o h a p p en to b e th e lea d ers a re in a p o s itio n o f u n fa ir a d v a n ta g e to

fa vo u r p e o p le c lo s e to th e m o r ev en t h eir fa m ily m e m b ers . In m a n y p a rties , th e t o p

p o s it io n s a re a lw a y s c o n tro lle d b y m em b e rs o f o n e fa m ily

The third challenge is a b o u t th e g ro w in g ro le o f m o n e y a n d m u s c le p o w e r in p a rtie s ,

e s p e c ia lly d u rin g e lec tio n s . S in c e p a rtie s a re fo c u s s e d o n ly o n w in n in g elec tio n s ,

th e y te n d to u s e s h o rt-c u t s to w in ele c t io n s . T h ey t en d to n o m in a te th o s e c a n d id a t es

w h o h a v e o r c a n ra is e lo ts o f m o n ey . R ic h p e o p le a n d c o m p a n ie s w h o g ive fu n d s to

th e p a rties t en d to h a v e in flu en c e o n th e p o lic ie s a n d d e c is io n s o f t h e p a rt y . In s o m e

c a s es , p a rtie s s u p p o rt c rim in a ls w h o c a n w in elec tio n s . D e m o c ra ts a ll o ve r th e w o rld

a re w o rried a b o u t th e in c re a s in g ro le o f ric h p e o p le a n d b ig c o m p a n ies in

d em o c ra tic p o litic s .

The fourth challenge is th a t v ery o fte n p a rties d o n o t s ee m to o ffer a m ea n in g fu l

c h o ic e to th e vo te rs . In o rd er to o ffe r m e a n in g fu l c h o ic e , p a rt ie s m u s t b e

s ig n ific a n tly d iffe ren t . In re c e n t y e a rs t h ere h a s b e en a d e c lin e in th e id e o lo g ic a l

d iffe re n c e s a m o n g p a rtie s in m o s t p a rts o f t h e w o rld .

HOW CAN PARTIES BE REFORMED?

In o rd e r to fa c e th e s e c h a llen g es , p o litic a l p a rt ies n ee d t o b e re fo rm ed . T h e q u e s tio n

is : A re p o litic a l p a rtie s w illin g to re fo rm ? If th e y a re w illin g , w h a t h a s p re ve n ted t h em

fro m refo rm in g s o fa r? If t h ey a re n o t w illin g , is it p o s s ib le to fo rc e th e m t o refo rm ?

C itiz en s a ll o v er th e w o rld fa c e th is q u e s tio n . T h is is n o t a s im p le q u e s tio n t o a n s w er.

In a d e m o c ra c y , th e fin a l d e c is io n is m a d e b y lea d ers w h o re p res e n t p o litic a l p a rt ie s .

P e o p le c a n re p la c e th e m , b u t o n ly b y a n o th er s e t o f p a rty le a d ers . If a ll o f th em d o

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
n o t w is h to re fo rm , h o w c a n a n y o n e fo rc e t h em to c h a n g e ? Le t u s lo o k a t s o m e o f

th e re c e n t effo rts a n d s u g g e s tio n s in o u r c o u n try to re fo rm p o litic a l p a rt ies a n d its

le a d e rs :

The Constitution w a s a m e n d e d t o p re ve n t ele c t ed M L A s M P c h a n g es p a rt ies , h e o r

s h e w ill lo s e th e s ea t in t h e leg is la t u re. T h is n e w la w h a s h e lp ed b rin g d e fec tio n

d o w n . A t th e s a m e tim e th is h a s m a d e a n y d is s en t ev en m o re d iffic u lt. M P s a n d

M L A s h a ve to a c c e p t w h a t ev er th e p a rty le a d ers d e c id e .

The Supreme Court p a s s ed a n o rd er to re d u c e th e in flu e n c e o f m o n ey a n d

c rim in a ls . N o w , it is m a n d a t o ry fo r ev ery c a n d id a te w h o c o n te s ts e le c tio n s to file a n

A F F ID A V IT g ivin g d et a ils o f h is p ro p ert y a n d c rim in a l c a s es p e n d in g a g a in s t h im .

T h e n ew s y s te m h a s m a d e a lo t o f in fo rm a tio n a v a ila b le to t h e p u b lic . B u t t h ere is

n o s y s te m o f c h e c k if th e in fo rm a tio n g ive n b y th e c a n d id a te s is t ru e . A s y et w e d o

n o t k n o w if it h a s led t o d ec lin e in th e in flu e n c e o f th e ric h a n d th e c rim in a ls .

The Election Commission p a s s e d a n o rd e r m a k in g it n ec es s a ry fo r p o litic a l p a rties

to h o ld th e ir o rg a n is a t io n a l elec tio n s a n d file th e ir in c o m e t a x retu rn s . T h e p a rtie s

h a v e s t a rte d d o in g s o b u t s o m et im e s it is m ere fo rm a lity . It is n o c le a r if th is s te p

h a s led to g rea t er in te rn a l d e m o c ra c y in p o litic a l p a rties . B e s id es t h es e , m a n y

s u g g e s tio n s a re o ften m a d e t o refo rm p o lit ic a l p a rtie s :

A law s h o u ld b e m a d e to re g u la t e th e in te rn a l a ffa irs o f p o lit ic a l p a rties . It s h o u ld b e

m a d e c o m p u ls o ry fo r p o litic a l p a rties t o m a in t a in a reg is te r o f it s m e m b ers , t o

fo llo w its o w n c o n s tit u tio n , to h a v e a n in d ep en d en t a u th o rit y , to a c t a s a ju d g e in

c a s e o f p a rty d is p u te s , to h o ld o p e n e le c tio n s t o th e h ig h es t p o s ts . l It s h o u ld b e

m a d e m a n d a to ry fo r p o litic a l p a rt ies to g iv e a m in im u m n u m b er o f tic k et s , a b o u t

o n e-th ird , t o w o m en c a n d id a t es . S im ila rly , th e re s h o u ld b e a q u o t a fo r w o m en in t h e

d ec is io n m a k in g b o d ie s o f th e p a rty .

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 CONCLUSION

P o litic a l p a rtie s a re e a s ily o n e o f t h e m o s t vis ib le in s tit u tio n s in a d e m o c ra c y . F o r

m o s t o rd in a ry c itiz en s , d em o c ra c y is e q u a l to p o lit ic a l p a rties . If y o u tra v el to re m o te

p a rts o f o u r c o u n t ry a n d s p ea k to th e le s s ed u c a t ed c itiz en s , y o u c o u ld c o m e a c ro s s

p eo p le w h o m a y n o t k n o w a n y th in g a b o u t o u r C o n s tit u tio n o r a b o u t th e n a tu re o f o u r

g o v ern m en t . B u t c h a n c es a re t h a t t h ey w o u ld k n o w s o m e th in g a b o u t o u r p o litic a l

p a rtie s .A t th e s a m e t im e th is vis ib ility d o es n o t m ea n p o p u la rit y . M o s t p eo p le t en d

to b e v ery c ritic a l o f p o litic a l p a rt ies . T h e E le c t io n C o m m is s io n p a s s e d a n o rd er

m a k in g it n e c e s s a ry fo r p o litic a l p a rtie s to h o ld th eir o rg a n is a tio n a l elec tio n s a n d file

th e ir in c o m e ta x retu rn s . T h e p a rtie s h a ve s t a rte d d o in g s o b u t s o m etim e s it is m e re

fo rm a lity . It is n o c le a r if th is s tep h a s led to g re a ter in t ern a l d em o c ra c y in p o litic a l

p a rtie s . B e s id e s t h es e , m a n y s u g g e s tio n s a re o fte n m a d e to re fo rm p o lit ic a l p a rties :

A la w s h o u ld b e m a d e t o reg u la t e t h e in te rn a l a ffa irs o f p o lit ic a l p a rtie s . It s h o u ld b e

m a d e c o m p u ls o ry fo r p o litic a l p a rties t o m a in t a in a reg is te r o f it s m e m b ers , t o

fo llo w its o w n c o n s tit u tio n , to h a v e a n in d ep en d en t a u th o rit y , to a c t a s a ju d g e in

c a s e o f p a rty d is p u te s , to h o ld o p e n e le c tio n s t o th e h ig h es t p o s ts . l It s h o u ld b e

m a d e m a n d a to ry fo r p o litic a l p a rt ies to g iv e a m in im u m n u m b er o f tic k et s , a b o u t

o n e-th ird , t o w o m en c a n d id a t es . S im ila rly , th e re s h o u ld b e a q u o t a fo r w o m en in t h e

d ec is io n m a k in g b o d ie s o f th e p a rty .

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PR OJEC T ON ; PO L IT IC AL P AR TI ES IN IND IA
 BIBLOGRAPHY

N C ER T B O O K

w w w .g o og [Link] m

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