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Political parties
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- 3. A politicalparty 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. They try to persuade the people for their policies and implement through winning through elections. Political parties have three components – Leaders, Active Members and Followers.
- 4. Contest Election:Elections in democracy are fought amongst the members selected by the political parties. From the selection to campaign everything is done by the political parties. Policies and Programmes: Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports. A government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by the RULING PARTY. Form and Run Government : The big policy decisions are taken by political executive that comes from the political parties.
- 5. Making Laws: Law are passed by legislature but they are designed by the ruling party based on their policies and programmes. Role of Opposition : Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising government for its failures or wrong policies. Shape Public Opinion : Political parties raise various issues with the help of their lakhs of members and with the help of pressure groups who support them. Provide access to government machinery and schemes: As parties are responsive to people, they are close to people than govt. officers.
- 6. Political partiesare needed to perform various duties in democracy and we can’t imagine democracy without them. Political parties provide that platform where they are binding the people by common policies and all together they are responsive to country rather than particular constituency. Democracy can’t be imagined without Political parties as they provide choices to people in elections. Political parties are needed to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to support or restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them. Political parties fulfill these needs that every representative government has.
- 7. One PartySystem: Only one Political Party is the most powerful, if there are other parties, they are subordinate. One particular party can make and control entire government system. China has ‘One Party System’, Communist Party holds the power and other people are allowed to form party as this system doesn’t permit for the same. Advantages : The cheapest form of party system as less money is spent on election expenses. Decisions are taken fast. No divisions in the society. Disadvantages: It allows one party dictatorship. No choices to voters. Minority is suppressed as they can’t express themselves politically
- 8. Bi-Party System: Two parties are major and they only control the power may be remained in power or opposition. USA and UK have Bi-Party system. Advantages : The less expensive political party system. Better than one party system as people have choice with them. Strong opposition is present in this party system. As there are two parties, society experiences less division based on political ideology. Disadvantages: If there are more social minorities, they don’t get political platform. Very few choices. If ruling party does not work properly, opposition to be elected and opposition does not work again the same party to be choosen. Not fully democratic.
- 9. Multi-Party System: When there are more than two parties are present and fight for political power that system is called ‘Multi-party System’. Most of the democratic countries in world have multi-party system. Advantages: More choices Satisfy all social divisions The most democratic system Disadvantages: The most expensive system As many parties are present, more confusion is generated Can leads to conflicts as many divisions in the society based political ideology. It is the most suited system for the countries with high population and more social divisions.
- 10. National Party Regional/ State Party 1. Party has to secure 6% votes in Lok Sabha election. 1. Party has to secure 6% votes in State Assembly election. 1. Party should get minimum 4 seats in Lok-sabha 1. Party should get minimum 2 seats in State Assembly. 1. Party gets permanent symbol and can’t be repeated. 1. Party symbol can be changed and repeated in other state 1. Party can be strong enough in minimum four states. 1. Party can be strong enough in one or two state only. 1. Party gets more privileges and allowed to collect more party funds. 1. Party gets less privileges and allowed to collect less party funds
- 11. Indian NationalCongress Oldest party formed in 1885 Ruled over at central and state for decades Lost support after 1977 but still one of the strongest parties in central as well as many states. A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. Supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Now working in alliance as UPA
- 12. Bharatiya JanataParty Founded in 1980, wanted to build strong India with the help of ancient Indian culture. Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics. Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion, and ban on religious conversions. Emerged as ruling party under the alliance named NDA in 1998
- 13. Bahujan SamajParty Founded by kanshi Ram in 1984 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. Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people. Party has good hold in UP and substantial support in nearby states.
- 14. Communist Partyof India – Marxist (CPI-M) Founded in 1964, believes in Marxism – Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. Accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective of socioeconomic justice in India. Has strong support in WB, Tripura and Kerala Critical of the new economic policies that allow free flow of foreign capital and goods into the country.
- 15. Communist Partyof India (CPI) Founded in 1925, Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism. Accepts parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the interests of the working class, farmers and the poor. Its support base had gradually declined over the years. It secured about 1.4 per cent votes and 10 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
- 16. Nationalist CongressParty (NCP) Founded in 1999, led the split of Congress Party. Espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism. Wants that high offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country. A coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress. Since 2004, a member of the United Progressive Alliance.
- 17. Lack ofInternal Democracy All over the world there is a tendency in political parties towards the concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party. They do not have the means or the connections needed to influence the decisions. Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party. More than loyalty to party principles andpolicies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.
- 18. Dynastic Succession: 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. Leaders in the party take undue advantage of their position and give to their family members too. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party. This is also bad for democracy, since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
- 19. Money andMuscle Power : Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use short-cuts to win elections. They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections. Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.
- 20. Lack ofMeaningful Choices : 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. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.
- 21. Law ofDefection The Constitution was amended toprevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will losethe seat in the legislature. This new law has helped bring defection down.
- 22. Law ofAffidavit 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 new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system of check.
- 23. Law ofIncome Tax Return The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns. The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is mere formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.
- 24. Law shouldbe made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members. Party should follow its own constitution. Party should hold open elections to the highest posts. It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses. People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation. It is difficult to reform politics if ordinary citizens do not take part in it and simply criticise it from the outside.
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