Political Parties

Why do we need political parties?

– Political parties are highly visible and closely associated with democracy for ordinary citizens.
– Political parties are more recognizable to less educated citizens than the Constitution or the nature of the government.
– People tend to be critical of political parties and blame them for the shortcomings of democracy.
– Political parties have become synonymous with social and political divisions.
– The omnipresence of political parties in democracies worldwide is a relatively recent phenomenon.
– Political parties are groups of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
– They agree on policies and programs to promote the collective good and persuade people to support their policies.
– Parties reflect fundamental political divisions and involve partisanship.
– A political party consists of leaders, active members, and followers.
– Functions of political parties include contesting elections, presenting policies and programs for voters to choose from, and reducing a variety of opinions into a few basic positions.
– Parties play a decisive role in making laws and forming and running governments.
– Opposition parties criticize the ruling parties and mobilize opposition.
– Parties shape public opinion, raise issues, and launch movements.
– Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
– Parties need to be responsive to people’s needs and demands to maintain support.

Necessity

– Political parties perform essential functions that are necessary for the functioning of modern democracies.
– Without political parties, candidates would be independent, unable to make promises or bring about major policy changes.
– Governments formed without parties would lack certainty and accountability for running the country.
– Non-party-based elections in certain states show how factions form and function similarly to political parties.
– Political parties exist in countries worldwide, regardless of their size, age, or level of development.
– The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies.
– Large and complex societies require agencies to gather and present different views to the government.
– Parties bring representatives together, support or restrain the government, make policies, and justify or oppose them.
– Political parties are a necessary condition for democracy to function effectively.

How many parties should we have?

– In a democracy, any group of citizens can form a political party, but not all parties are serious contenders in elections.
– The number of major or effective parties in a democracy is subjective and depends on the country’s circumstances.
– One-party systems, where only one party controls the government, are undemocratic.
– A two-party system, where power usually alternates between two main parties, exists in some countries like the USA and the UK.
– A multiparty system, like in India, allows several parties to compete for power, often resulting in coalition governments.
– Multiparty systems offer representation to a variety of interests and opinions but can lead to political instability.
– The choice of party system is not something a country can easily determine; it evolves over time based on societal factors, history, and electoral systems.
– Each country develops a party system that suits its unique circumstances.
– No party system is ideal for all countries and situations.

National parties

– All India Trinamool Congress (AITC): Formed in 1998, led by Mamata Banerjee, committed to secularism and federalism, holds power in West Bengal since 2011, presence in other states.
– Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): Founded in 1984 by Kanshi Ram, represents bahujan samaj (Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, religious minorities), strong base in Uttar Pradesh, presence in neighboring states.
– Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Established in 1980, promotes cultural nationalism, advocates for Jammu and Kashmir integration, uniform civil code, and religious conversion ban, expanded support base across regions, leading party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
– Communist Party of India (CPI): Formed in 1925, follows Marxism-Leninism, supports secularism and democracy, significant presence in Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
– Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M): Founded in 1964, adheres to Marxism-Leninism, emphasizes socialism, secularism, and democracy, strong support in West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, critical of new economic policies.
– Indian National Congress (INC): Established in 1885, played a dominant role in Indian politics, centrist party with secular and welfare-oriented ideology, support declined after 1989, present throughout the country, part of UPA government from 2004 to 2019.
– Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): Formed in 1999 after Congress split, advocates democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice, and federalism, major presence in Maharashtra, part of United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

State parties

– Many major parties in India are classified as “State parties” or regional parties, although their ideology and outlook may extend beyond their respective regions.
– Some regional parties have a national-level political organization with units in multiple states, while others emphasize their state identity.
– The number and strength of regional parties have increased over the last three decades, making the Indian Parliament politically diverse.
– National parties often form alliances with regional parties to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha.
– Since 1996, most state parties have had the opportunity to be part of national-level coalition governments, contributing to the strengthening of federalism and democracy in India.

Challenges to political parties

– Political parties are often blamed for the shortcomings of democracy worldwide, including in India.
– The first challenge is the lack of internal democracy within parties, with power concentrated in a few leaders at the top.
– Dynastic succession is another challenge, where family members of leaders are favored, hindering opportunities for ordinary party workers to rise.
– The growing role of money and muscle power in parties, particularly during elections, is a significant concern.
– Parties often fail to offer meaningful choices to voters, as ideological differences have decreased, and the same leaders shift between parties, limiting diversity in leadership options.

How can parties be reformed?

– Reformation of political parties is necessary to address the challenges they face, but whether parties are willing to reform is uncertain.
– Efforts to reform political parties in India include constitutional amendments to prevent defection, Supreme Court orders to disclose candidates’ financial and criminal details, and Election Commission orders for organizational elections and income tax filing.
– Suggestions for further reforms include regulating internal party affairs, ensuring gender representation, and state funding of elections.
– Legal solutions must be approached with caution, as over-regulation can lead to evasion and parties will not pass laws they disagree with.
– Pressure from citizens, pressure groups, movements, and the media can push parties to take up reforms, and active participation of citizens in politics is crucial for improving the quality of democracy.