Political Parties and Their Role
NCERT Class 10 - Democratic Politics II • NCERT Class 11 - Indian Constitution at Work
Political Parties and Their Role
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. It has an agreed set of policies and programmes, and it seeks to promote what it defines as the collective good.
Components and functions
- A party has three components - the leaders, the active members and the followers or supporters.
- Contest elections - in most democracies candidates are selected and put up by parties.
- Put forward policies and programmes - parties reduce a mass of differing opinions to a few broad positions the voter can choose between.
- Make laws - laws are debated and passed in the legislature, but the decision is effectively taken by the party leadership, and members vote with the party.
- Form and run governments - parties recruit and train leaders, make them ministers and run the government.
- Play the role of opposition - parties that lose criticise the government, raise grievances and offer an alternative.
- Shape public opinion - parties raise and highlight issues, and are often connected to pressure groups and movements.
- Provide access to government machinery and welfare schemes, which is why the local party worker matters to ordinary citizens.
Party systems
| System | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One-party system | Only one party is allowed to control and run the government | Not democratic |
| Two-party system | Power usually alternates between two major parties | United States, United Kingdom |
| Multi-party system | Several parties compete, and governments are often coalitions | India |
- India's multi-party system is a direct result of its social and geographical diversity, which no two parties could absorb.
- The system appears to produce political untidiness and instability, but it allows varied interests and regions a voice, which is why it has endured.
Recognition and challenges
- The Election Commission registers all parties and grants recognition as a national or state party based on a required share of votes and seats over specified elections, under the Election Symbols Order.
- Recognised parties get a reserved symbol, free broadcast time and other facilities; a national party's symbol is reserved across the country.
- Challenges facing parties - lack of internal democracy, with no regular organisational elections and decisions concentrated at the top.
- Dynastic succession, which follows directly from the absence of internal democracy.
- Growing role of money and muscle power in candidate selection and campaigns.
- Voters often face no meaningful choice where parties differ little on fundamental issues.
- Reform measures - the anti-defection law, mandatory affidavits by candidates, the requirement that parties file income tax returns and hold organisational elections, and proposals for state funding and quotas for women in candidate lists.
हिंदी संकेत: दल की तीन बातें याद रखिए - नेता, सक्रिय सदस्य और अनुयायी। और भारत की बहुदलीय व्यवस्था का कारण यहां की सामाजिक तथा भौगोलिक विविधता है।
Exam me kaise aata hai
Factual questions ask the three components of a party and who grants recognition. Match-the-following links party system with example. Application questions describe a situation of dynastic control or defection and ask which challenge or reform it relates to.
UPSC / State PSC ke liye
Present parties as the necessary link between society and the state - without them, every candidate would be independent, no one could be held responsible for governing, and no stable policy direction could emerge. Then argue that the fix for their defects is regulation and internal democracy, not the fantasy of politics without parties.
Yahan confuse hote hain
✗ A one-party system is a form of democracy | ✓ It is not democratic, since there is no real choice
✗ Recognition of parties is granted by Parliament | ✓ It is granted by the Election Commission
✗ Two-party systems have only two parties | ✓ Several parties exist, but power usually alternates between two
Ek nazar me
- A political party contests elections and seeks to hold power with an agreed programme.
- Its three components are leaders, active members and followers.
- Functions - contest elections, frame policy, make laws, run government, form the opposition, shape opinion.
- One-party, two-party and multi-party systems; India is multi-party because of its diversity.
- The Election Commission registers parties and recognises them as national or state parties.
- Challenges - lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, money and muscle power, limited choice.
- Reforms - anti-defection law, affidavits, organisational elections and proposals for state funding.