Political parties are groups that contest elections with the aim of implementing their policies through government. They reflect societal divisions and advocate for certain interests and policies. A political party has leaders, active members, and followers. Key functions include contesting elections, forming policies, shaping public opinion, forming and running the government, and acting as opposition. National parties in India include the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party, and Nationalist Congress Party. Regional parties operate at the state level. Reforms aim to increase internal democracy, reduce money and criminal influence, and improve the electoral process.

2. Political Parties
• It is a group of people who come together to
contest elections and hold power in the
government.
• They agree on some policies and programmes for
the society with a view to promote the collective
good.
• A political party tries to convince people that its
policies are better than others’ policies. They try
to win elections so that they can implement their
policies.

3. • Thus, parties reflect fundamental political
divisions in a society.
• Parties are about a part of the society and
thus involve PARTISANSHIP.
• Thus a party is known by which part it stands
for, which policies it supports and whose
interests it upholds

4. A political party has three
components:
• The Leaders
• The Active Members and
• The Followers

5. Functions of Political Party:
• Elections
• Declaration of Policies
• Moulding Public Opinion
• To form and run the government
• the role of opposition
• Parties play a decisive role in making law
• Parties provide people access to government
machinery and welfare schemes

6. NEED FOR POLITICAL PARTIES:
• It is very difficult to imagine democracy without
political parties, because without political parties every
candidate in the elections will be independent. So no
one will be able to make any promise to people about
any major policy changes.
• The government may be formed, but its life will remain
ever uncertain. Elected representatives will be
accountable to their respective constituencies not for
the country.
• Needed some agency to gather different views on
various issues and to present these to the government

7. How many parties should we have?
• Single Party system
• Bi-Party system
• Multiparty system
• Coliation of party
• Ideal party

8. POLTICAL PARTIES IN INDIA:
• National Political Parties
• Regional Political Parties.

9. National Party
• These exist, operate and function throughout
India.
• It should secures at least 6% valid votes at the
last general elections or last Assembly
elections in four states is recognized as a
national party.

10. The Election Commission of India
has recognized the following Parties
as National Political Parties for the
election.

11. INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC)
• The party was formed before
independence, i.e., in 1885.
• It is one of the oldest parties in
India.
• The party has played a
dominated role in Indian politics
at the national and state levels
for several decades.
• It Emerged as the largest party
members in the Lok Sabha
elections held in 2008.

12. Ideologies of the Congress
• It is centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist)
in its ideological orientation.
• the party supports new economic reforms but
with a human face
• the party has full faith in secularism
• the party aims at the welfare of the weaker
sections and minorities.

13. BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY(BJP)
The party was
founded in 1980
by reviving the
Bharatiya Janata
Sangh.

14. Ideologies of the BJP
• the party 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.
• They wants full territorial and political
integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India

15. COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-
MARXIST- CPI(M)
• The party was formed in 1964

16. Ideologies CPI(M)
• The party believes in Marxism- Leninism. The
party support socialism, secularism and
democracy, and opposes imperialism and
communalism.
• The party concepts democratic election as a
useful and helpful means for securing the
objective of socio economic justice in India.
• The party is critical of the new economic
policies that allow the free flow of foreifn
capital and goods into the country.

17. BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY (BSP)
• The party was
formed in 1984
under the
leadership of
Kanshi Ram

18. Ideologies
• The party seeks to represent and secure
power for the bahujan samaj which includes
the dalits, the adivasis, the OBCs and other
religious minorities.
• The party inspiration from the ideas and
teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule,
B.R Ambedkar etc., Stands for the cause of
securing the interests and welfare of the dalits
and oppressed classes.

19. NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY(NCP)
• The party was formed
in 1999 following a
split in the congress
party. The party
espouses democracy,
Gandhian secularism,
equality etc., it is the
major party in
Mahashtra.

20. REGIONAL PARTIES / STATE PARTIES
• The party which originates in a particular
region or state and works for it and its people
is called the Regional Political Party.
• A party that secures at least 6% of the total
votes in an election to the legislative assembly
of a State and wins at least two seats is
recognized as a State Party.
• These exist, operate and function at the
regional level.
• For example: Akali Dal, Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha etc.,

21. CHALLENGES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
• Lack of internal democracy
• Dynastic succession
• Money and muscle power
• Lack of meaningful choice the voters

22. HOW CAN BE PARTIES REFORMED?
• Anti Defection Law : MLAs or MPs cannot
change their parties after the election. This
was done because many elected
representatives were indulging in defection in
order to become ministers for cash rewards.

23. • Affidavit : 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/ her. But there is no
system of check if the information given by
the candidates is true or not.

24. • Steps taken by the Election
Commission:
The Election Commission passed an
order making it necessary for political
parties to hold their organizational
elections and file their income tax
returns.

25. PROPOSALS FOR
ELECTORAL REFORMS

26. Provision of state funding of elections
• Many people are of the opinion that with the
purpose to check the misuse of money power,
provision of state funding of elections should
be made.

27. Check on the misuse of official
machinery
• the Election Commission has given the
following code of conduct:
– the election should be held under the
supervisions of the care taker government
– the ministers should not be allowed take part in
the functions arranged with government
expenditure
– the ministers should not be allowed to use
government vehicles.

28. Provision to minimize the number of
candidates
• It is commonly seen that large number of
candidates contest elections and sometimes
their number crosses hundreds which
becomes a headache for the electoral officers.
So efforts should make to discourage the non-
serious candidates from contesting election.

29. Proper revision of voter’s lists
• The voters list should be revised at regular
intervals and names of the dead or bogus
voters should be deleted from the lists and
name of the new eligible voters be included in
these lists.

30. THANK YOU