Meaning of a Political Party - A group of people with some common political aims. Want to achieve these aims by coming to power, thus they contest elections.
three components - Leaders, Active Members, Followers
Functions of a Political Party -
(i) contest elections
(ii) put forward different policies and programmes
(iii) decisive role in making laws for a country
(iv) Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government
(v) parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition
(vi) Parties shape public opinion.
(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes
Necessities -
(i) for forming the government ( to make any promises, to ensure utility of the govt., to ensure responsiblity for how the country will be run)
(ii) parties provide us a group of candidates
How many parties should we have -
(i) Single party system - countries where only one party is allowed to control and run the government. for e.g. China. one-party system is not a good because this is not a democratic option
(ii) Two party system - Several parties may exist, but only two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government. for e.g. the USA & UK
(iii) Multi party system - several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called an alliance. NDA & UPA in India
Party system 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. Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
National Political Parties
three components - Leaders, Active Members, Followers
Functions of a Political Party -
(i) contest elections
(ii) put forward different policies and programmes
(iii) decisive role in making laws for a country
(iv) Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government
(v) parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition
(vi) Parties shape public opinion.
(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes
Necessities -
(i) for forming the government ( to make any promises, to ensure utility of the govt., to ensure responsiblity for how the country will be run)
(ii) parties provide us a group of candidates
How many parties should we have -
(i) Single party system - countries where only one party is allowed to control and run the government. for e.g. China. one-party system is not a good because this is not a democratic option
(ii) Two party system - Several parties may exist, but only two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority of seats to form government. for e.g. the USA & UK
(iii) Multi party system - several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power. When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power, it is called an alliance. NDA & UPA in India
Party system 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. Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
National Political Parties
All India Trinamool
Congress (AITC)
:
Launched on 1 January 1998
under the leadership of
Mamata Banerjee. Recognised as a
national party in 2016. The party’s symbol
is flowers and grass. Committed to
secularism and federalism. Has been in
power in West Bengal since 2011. Also
has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur and Tripura. In the General
Elections held in 2019, it got 4.07 per cent
votes and won 22 seats, making it the
fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha
Country- wide parties, which have their units in various states. By and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy. Are given a unique symbol.
Are 'recognised' by the Election Commission thats why called, 'recognised political parties'
Party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha
Six national recognised parties in the country in 2006
Indian National Congress - One of the oldest parties of the world, founded in 1885. Wants to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. A centrist party, espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Leads the United Progressive Alliance coalition.
Bharatiya Janata Party - Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Draws inspiration from India's ancient culture and values. Emphasises on Cultural nationalism, full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code and ban on religious conversions. Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance.
Bahujan Samaj Party - Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj, gets inspiration from the ideas and teachings of dalit leaders, main base in Uttar Pradesh, formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times.
Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M): Founded in 1964. Believes in Marxism-Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Critical of the new economic policies
Communist Party of India (CPI): Formed in 1925. Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism. Accepts parliamentary democracy. presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): Formed in 1999, Wants that high offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country. A major party in Maharashtra, significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam.
State Parties - Has made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy
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.
Challenges to Political Parties -
(i) Lack of Internal Democracy - Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party, neither have the means nor the connections needed to influence the decisions. Those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party. Personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important than party loyalty.
(ii) Challenge of dynastic succession - the leaders favour people close to them or even their family members. top positions are always controlled by members of one family. many a times people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
(iii) money and muscle power in parties - To win elecetions parties tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. Parties often support criminals who can win elections.
(iv) Lack of meaningful choice - 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 in most parts of the world. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.
How can parties be reformed?
(i) Anti-defection law - the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature
(ii) 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.
(iii) Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns
Suggestions to reform political parties -
(i) law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties
(ii) political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. a quota for women in the decision making bodies of the party
(iii) There should be state funding of elections.
two ways by which Common people can reform political parties
(i) 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.
(ii) Political parties can improve if those who want this join political parties.
Country- wide parties, which have their units in various states. By and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy. Are given a unique symbol.
Are 'recognised' by the Election Commission thats why called, 'recognised political parties'
Party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha
Six national recognised parties in the country in 2006
Indian National Congress - One of the oldest parties of the world, founded in 1885. Wants to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. A centrist party, espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Leads the United Progressive Alliance coalition.
Bharatiya Janata Party - Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Draws inspiration from India's ancient culture and values. Emphasises on Cultural nationalism, full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code and ban on religious conversions. Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance.
Bahujan Samaj Party - Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj, gets inspiration from the ideas and teachings of dalit leaders, main base in Uttar Pradesh, formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times.
Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M): Founded in 1964. Believes in Marxism-Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Critical of the new economic policies
Communist Party of India (CPI): Formed in 1925. Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism. Accepts parliamentary democracy. presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): Formed in 1999, Wants that high offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country. A major party in Maharashtra, significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam.
State Parties - Has made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy
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.
Challenges to Political Parties -
(i) Lack of Internal Democracy - Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party, neither have the means nor the connections needed to influence the decisions. Those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party. Personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important than party loyalty.
(ii) Challenge of dynastic succession - the leaders favour people close to them or even their family members. top positions are always controlled by members of one family. many a times people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
(iii) money and muscle power in parties - To win elecetions parties tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. Parties often support criminals who can win elections.
(iv) Lack of meaningful choice - 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 in most parts of the world. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.
How can parties be reformed?
(i) Anti-defection law - the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature
(ii) 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.
(iii) Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns
Suggestions to reform political parties -
(i) law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties
(ii) political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. a quota for women in the decision making bodies of the party
(iii) There should be state funding of elections.
two ways by which Common people can reform political parties
(i) 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.
(ii) Political parties can improve if those who want this join political parties.
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