3. POLITICAL PARTIES
MEANING:
A group of people holding similar opinion on
policies and programmes ,
who come together to contest elections
and hold power in the Govt. is known as a
political party.
6. FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES
ROLE OF THE OPPOSITION.
TO SHAPE PUBLIC OPINION.
ACCESS TO GOVT. MACHINERY AND
WELFARE SCHEMES.
7. Why do we need political parties?
Most visible institutions in a democracy.
Help in forming the govt.
For most ordinary citizens,
Democracy is equal to political parties.
8.
9. How many parties should we
have?
In a democracy any group of citizens is free to
form a political party.
750 parties are registered with the Election
Commission of India.
But not all these parties are serious contenders in
the elections.
10. How many major or effective
parties are good for a
democracy?
One-party system
Two-party system
Multi-party system
11. One-party system
In China, only the Communist Party is allowed
to rule.
We cannot consider one party system as a
good option because this is not a democratic
option.
China and Cuba are example of one-party
system.
12. Two-party system
In some countries, power usually changes
between two main parties.
But only the two main parties have a serious
chance of winning majority of seats to form
government.
The United States of America and the United
Kingdom are examples of two-party system.
13. Multi-party system
In this system, the government is formed by
various parties coming together in a coalition.
For example, in India there were three such major
alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections– the
National Democratic Alliance, the United
Progressive Alliance and the Left Front.
14.
15. National Political Parties
A party that secures at least six per cent of
total votes in Lok Sabha elections or
Assembly elections in four States and wins at
least four seats in the Lok Sabha is
recognised as a national party.
16. STATE POLITICAL PARTY
A party that secures at least 6 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.
Have their own policies and programmes and
strategy to be followed at the state or regional
level.
17.
18.
19. Indian National Congress (INC)
1885
O Established in 1885.
O It ruled continuously from 1947-1977, 1980-
1989, 2004- till date.
O Its ideological orientation, the party espouses
secularism and welfare of weaker sections
and minorities.
O Currently leads the ruling United Progressive
Alliance coalition government at the Centre.
25. Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP): 1984
Founder Kanshi Ram.
Seeks to represent and secure power for the
bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis,
OBCs and religious minorities.
Draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of
Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar
Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
26.
27.
28.
29. Communist Party of
India (CPI):1925
Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism
and democracy.
Opposed to the forces of secessionism and
communalism.
Promoting the interests of the working class,
farmers and the poor.
Split in the party in 1964.( CPI :M )
30. Communist Party of
India (CPI):1925
Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu.
Advocates the coming together of all left
parties to build a strong left front.
31. STATE POLITICAL PARTY
The Election Commission recognizes some state parties which can be
referred to as regional parties also.
From 1984 to 2014, no national party was able to secure on its own a
majority in the Lok Sabha. So, the national parties were compelled to form
alliances with state parties, leading to a strong coalition government.
Thus, since1996, nearly every one of the State parties has got an opportunity
to be part of one or the other national level coalition government. This has
strengthened the concept of federalism and democracy.
32.
33. Challenges to political parties
The first challenge is lack of internal democracy
within parties.
Parties do not keep membership registers, do not
hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct
internal elections regularly.
The second challenge of dynastic succession is
related to the first one.
34. Challenges to political parties
Since most political parties do not practice open and
transparent procedures for their functioning, there are
very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top
in a party.
They tend to use short-cuts to win elections.
Number of criminals are increasing in the political
parties.
The third challenge is about the growing role of money
and muscle power in parties.
35. The third challenge is about the growing role
of money and muscle power in parties
Challenges to political parties
36. Challenges to political parties
The fourth challenge is that very often parties do
not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the
voters.
In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must
be significantly different.
In recent years there has been a decline in the
ideological differences among parties
38. How can parties be reformed?
The Constitution was amended to prevent
elected MLAs and MPs from changing
parties.( DEFECTION)(DAL-BADAL)
Now the law says that if any MLA or MP
changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in
the legislature.
39. How can parties be reformed?
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.
The Election Commission passed an order to file their
income tax returns, its mandatory for the political party.
40. Besides these, many suggestions are
often made to reform political parties:
Political parties should maintain register of their
members, to follow its own constitution, to have an
independent authority, to act as a judge in case of party
disputes.
About one-third seats to be given to women
candidates.
There should be state funding of elections.
The government should give parties money to support
their election expenses.
41. There are two other ways in which
political parties can be reformed.
(1) People can put pressure on political parties.
This can be done through petitions, publicity and
agitations.
(2) Political parties can improve if those who want
this join political parties.
