Political Parties

• It 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.

• A political party tries to convince people that its policies are better than others’ policies. They try to win elections so that they can implement their policies.

• Thus, parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society.

• Parties are about a part of the society and thus involve PARTISANSHIP.

• Thus a party is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interests it upholds

A political party has three components:

• The Leaders• The Active Members and• The Followers

Functions of Political Party:

• Elections• Declaration of Policies• Moulding Public Opinion• To form and run the government• the role of opposition • Parties play a decisive role in making law • Parties provide people access to government

machinery and welfare schemes

NEED FOR POLITICAL PARTIES:

• It is very difficult to imagine democracy without political parties, because without political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent. So no one will be able to make any promise to people about any major policy changes.

• The government may be formed, but its life will remain ever uncertain. Elected representatives will be accountable to their respective constituencies not for the country.

• Needed some agency to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government

How many parties should we have?

• Single Party system• Bi-Party system• Multiparty system• Coliation of party• Ideal party

POLTICAL PARTIES IN INDIA:

• National Political Parties • Regional Political Parties.

National Party

• These exist, operate and function throughout India.

• It should secures at least 6% valid votes at the last general elections or last Assembly elections in four states is recognized as a national party.

The Election Commission of India has recognized the following Parties as National Political Parties for the election.

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC)• The party was formed before

independence, i.e., in 1885. • It is one of the oldest parties in

India. • The party has played a dominated

role in Indian politics at the national and state levels for several decades.

• It Emerged as the largest party members in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2008.

Ideologies of the Congress

• It is centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation.

• the party supports new economic reforms but with a human face

• the party has full faith in secularism• the party aims at the welfare of the weaker

sections and minorities.

BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY(BJP)

The party was founded in 1980 by reviving the Bharatiya Janata Sangh.

Ideologies of the BJP

• the party wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values.

• Cultural nationalism (or Hindutva) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics.

• They wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST- CPI(M)

• The party was formed in 1964

Ideologies CPI(M)• The party believes in Marxism- Leninism. The

party support socialism, secularism and democracy, and opposes imperialism and communalism.

• The party concepts democratic election as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective of socio economic justice in India.

• The party is critical of the new economic policies that allow the free flow of foreifn capital and goods into the country.

BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY (BSP)

• The party was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram

Ideologies

• The party seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, the adivasis, the OBCs and other religious minorities.

• The party inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, B.R Ambedkar etc., Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed classes.

NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY(NCP)

• The party was formed in 1999 following a split in the congress party. The party espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equality etc., it is the major party in Mahashtra.

REGIONAL PARTIES / STATE PARTIES

• The party which originates in a particular region or state and works for it and its people is called the Regional Political Party.

• A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in an election to the legislative assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognized as a State Party.

• These exist, operate and function at the regional level.

• For example: Akali Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha etc.,

CHALLENGES OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Lack of internal democracy• Dynastic succession• Money and muscle power• Lack of meaningful choice the voters

HOW CAN BE PARTIES REFORMED?

• Anti Defection Law : MLAs or MPs cannot change their parties after the election. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection in order to become ministers for cash rewards.

• 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/ her. But there is no system of check if the information given by the candidates is true or not.

• Steps taken by the Election Commission:The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns.

PROPOSALS FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS

Provision of state funding of elections

• Many people are of the opinion that with the purpose to check the misuse of money power, provision of state funding of elections should be made.

Check on the misuse of official machinery

• the Election Commission has given the following code of conduct: – the election should be held under the supervisions

of the care taker government – the ministers should not be allowed take part in

the functions arranged with government expenditure

– the ministers should not be allowed to use government vehicles.

Provision to minimize the number of candidates

• It is commonly seen that large number of candidates contest elections and sometimes their number crosses hundreds which becomes a headache for the electoral officers. So efforts should make to discourage the non-serious candidates from contesting election.

Proper revision of voter’s lists

• The voters list should be revised at regular intervals and names of the dead or bogus voters should be deleted from the lists and name of the new eligible voters be included in these lists.

THANK YOU