class X political parties

 

Political Parties

A political party 

 

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. They agree on some policies and programs for the society with a view to promote the collective good. 

 

Partisan (Active member)

 

A person, who is strongly committed to a political party 

 

Partisanship ( Follower) 

 

Partisanship is marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.

 

 

Components of a political Party

 

 A political party has three components:

 

1.      The leaders

2.      The active members and

3.      The followers

 

What does a political party do?  OR

 What are the functions of political parties? OR

 Why do we need political parties?

 

 

1.      Political Parties contest elections. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties. In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.

2.      Parties put forward different policies and programs and the voters choose from them. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments.

3.       Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally, laws are debated and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party leadership.

4.      Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.

5.      Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the ruling parties, by voicing different views and criticising government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.

6.      Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. 

7.      Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.

 

Why modern democracies cannot exist without political parties?

 

We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation without parties.

1.      Every candidate in the elections will be independent. So no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any (National level Policies) major policy changes. 

2.      The government may be formed, but its utility will remain ever uncertain.

3.      Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in the locality. But no one will be responsible for how the country will be run.

4.      The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As societies became large and complex, they also needed some agency to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government.

5.       They needed Political party to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them.

 

Political Parties and Party System 

 

1.      Single Party System

 

In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-party systems. In China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.

 

2.      Two Party System

 

In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. Several other parties may exist but only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government. Such a party system is called two-party system. 

 

3.      Multi-Party System

 

If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multi-party system. 

 

4.      In India there were three such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections

 

National Democratic Alliance

United Progressive Alliance 

Left Front.

 

How many parties should we have in a democracy? OR How many major or effective parties are good for a democracy?

 

1.       Party system is not something any country can choose. It evolves over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and its system of elections.

2.      Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances. 

3.      For example, if India has evolved a multi-party system, it is because the social and geographical diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties. 

4.      No system is ideal for all countries and all situations. (We cannot consider one party system as a good option because this is not a democratic option. Any democratic system must allow at least two parties to compete in elections and provide a fair chance for the competing parties to come to power.)

5.      (The multi-party system often appears very messy and leads to political instability)

 

Political parties in India

 

1.      Recognised Political Parties

 

Election Commission offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol, privileges and some other special facilities. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’. 

 

2.      National Parties

 

A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or six per cent of the total votes in Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha or two seats in four states is recognized as a national party.

 

3.      State Parties

 

A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party. 

 

National Political Parties

 

1.      Indian National Congress(INC)

 

a.       Congress Party is one of the oldest parties of the world. It was founded in 1885 and has experienced many splits. 

b.      Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the party sought to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. 

c.       Ruling party at the centre from 1947 to 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined, but it continues to be present throughout the country, cutting across social divisions. 

d.      A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. 

e.       Currently leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition government at the Centre.

 

2.      Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)

 

a.       It was founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

b.      It wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values. Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics. 

c.       It wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion and ban on religious conversions. 

d.      Earlier its popularity was limited to north and west and to urban areas but the party expanded its support in the south, east and north-east and to rural areas. 

e.       Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance including several state and regional parties. 

 

3.      Bahujan Samaj Party( BSP)

 

a.       It was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.It seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities. 

b.      It draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar. 

c.       It stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people. 

d.      It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab. 

e.       It formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking the support of different parties at different times. 

f.       In the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, it polled about 5 per cent votes and secured 19 seats in the Lok Sabha.

 

4.      Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M):

 

a.       It was founded in 1964. It believes in Marxism- Leninism. 

b.      It supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. 

c.       It accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective of socioeconomic justice in India. 

d.      It enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia. 

e.       Has been in power in West Bengal without a break for 30 years. In 2004 elections, it won about 6 per cent of votes and 43 seats in the Lok Sabha. 

 

5.      Communist Party of India (CPI)

 

a.       It was formed in 1925. It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy.

b.      It opposes to the forces of secessionism and communalism. 

c.       It accepts parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the interests of the working class, farmers and the poor. 

d.      It became weak after the split in the party in 1964. Significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 

e.       Its support base had gradually declined over the years. It secured about 1.4 per cent votes and 10 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

 

6.      Nationalist Congress Party (NCP):

 

a.       It was formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress party. 

b.      It espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism. 

c.       It wants that high offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country.

d.      A major party in Maharashtra and has a significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam. 

e.       A coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress. Since 2004, a member of the United Progressive Alliance.

 

State political parties

 

1.      Regional parties need not be regional in their ideology or outlook. Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states. 

2.      Parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level political organisation with units in several states. 

3.      Some of these parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front and Mizo National Front are conscious about their State identity.

4.      Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties has expanded. This made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse.

5.      No one national party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties from1996

 

Challenges to political parties

 

1.      The first challenge is lack of internal democracy within parties. All over the world there is a tendency in political parties towards the concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organizational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly.

2.      The second challenge is dynastic succession. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party. This is also bad for democracy.

3.      The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections. They tend to nominate rich candidates and in some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections. 

4.      The fourth challenge is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In recent years there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.

5.      Since political parties are the most visible face of democracy, it is natural that people blame parties for whatever is wrong with the working of democracy. Popular dissatisfaction and criticism has focused on four problem areas in the working of political parties.

 

How can political parties be reformed? 

 

(Some of the recent efforts made to reform parties)

 

1.      The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. Because some elected representatives indulge in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. 

2.      The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an AFFIDAVIT giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.

3.      The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns.

 

Some suggestions made to reform political parties and its leaders:

 

1.      A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, follow its own constitution and hold open elections to the highest posts.

2.      It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. 

3.      There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money, petrol, paper, telephone etc. to support their election expenses. 

 

4.      There are two other ways in which political parties can be reformed.

 

 A) People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups and movements and the media can play an important role in this. 

 B) Political parties can improve if many join political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation. It is difficult to reform politics if ordinary citizens do not take part in it and simply criticize it from the outside.