Political Parties

By Mr. Siddharth
Chandrasekar
Why do we need political
parties ?
• To organise elections and to form
Governments

What is a political party?

• It is a group of people who come

together to contest elections and
hold power in the Government
What do political parties
do?
• They agree on policies and
programmes to promote collective
good
• Persuade people to know why
their policies are better than
others
• They seek to implement policies by
winning popular support through
elections
• They reflect fundamental political
divisions in a society
• They are a part of society and
 What are the three
components of a political
• Leaders
• Active Members
• Followers
Functions of a Political
Party...
• They contest elections, select
candidates & puts forward policies
• They make a decisive role in
making laws
• Parties form and run Governments
• Opposition checks the Government
and preserves democracy
• Parties shape public opinion
• Parties provide people access to
Government machinery and
 What will be the situation
without Political Parties ?
• Independent candidates will be
there
• No promise would be made with
regard to policy changes
• Governmental unity will be at
stake
• Representatives will be
accountable to their
constituency but not responsible
What are the needs fulfilled
by Political Parties ?
• Representation
• Parties gather views on various issues
and present it to the Government
• Parties bring various representatives to
form responsible Government
• Parties have the mechanism to support
or restrain Government, make policies,
justify or oppose them
• Parties are a necessary condition for
democracy
How many parties should
we have?
• One party system
• Example - China – Communist Party of
China

• Two Party /Bi Party

• Example - U.S.A. and U.K.

• Multi Party –several parties compete

and more than two parties have a
reasonable chance of coming to power
on their own strength or in
alliance(coalition government)
What is an Alliance or
Front
• Joining ?
of several parties for
contesting elections and winning
Effects
power of multi party
system...
• Political scenario becomes messy
• Political instability
• Various interests and opinions to
enjoy political representation
Why has India gone in for
a multi party system?
• Social and geographical diversity is
not easily absorbed by two or three
Political Parties...
National Parties
• They have units in various states .Have
same policies, programmes and
strategy that is decided at national
level
• Secure at least 6% of votes in Lok
Sabhaor assembly elections in 4 states
and win at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha
• Example - Congress I, Bharatiya Janata
Party

What are recognised political parties?

• They are recognised by the Election
Commission by giving symbols
Political Parties…
State Party
• Must have secured 6% of total
votes in an election to legislature
of a state and win at least 2 seats
• Example DMK, Telugu Desam &
AIADMK

Name some State Parties that have

National level political
organisations ?
• Samajwadi Party, Samata Party &
What are the challenges to
Political Parties ?
Lack of Internal Democracy
• Concentration of power in one or few
leaders
• No membership register, no meetings,
no internal elections and insufficient
information for ordinary members
• They do not have scope to influence
decisions

Dynasty Succession
• Leaders have unfair advantage to
favour people close to them
• Do not practice open and transparent
procedure for functioning
What are the challenges to
Political Parties ?
Money & Muscle Power
• They focus on elections
• Use short cut methods to win
• Moneyed candidates come to power
• Rich tend to influence
• Criminals are supported in order to win
elections

Offering of Meaningful Choice

• Decline in ideological differences
• Agreement on fundamental aspects
• Narrowing down of differences on
economic policies
How can we reform Political
Parties?
• Elected MLA’S & MP’S should not
defect
• Reduction of influence of money
• Parties to hold their organisational
elections & file income tax returns
• Regulation of internal affairs of
political parties
• Mandatory for political parties to give
minimum number of tickets
• State funding of elections
• People can petition political parties
• Political parties can improve if those