Political parties - QRN

Introduction:

A political party is a group of individuals organised to acquire and exercise political power.
Political parties originated in their modern form in Europe and the United States in the 19th
century, along with the electoral and parliamentary systems, whose development reflects
the evolution of parties. The term party has since come to be applied to all organised
groups seeking political power, whether by democratic elections or by revolution.

Necessity of political parties:

Parties reflect fundamental political and ideological 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
● The followers of the party

Functions:

1. Parties contest elections. In general, elections are fought mainly among the candidates
of political parties. In some countries, such as the USA, members and supporters of a
party choose candidates. In countries like India, top party leaders choose candidates
for contesting elections.

2. Parties put forward different policies, ideas and programs and the voters choose from
them. Each of us may have different opinions and views and decide what policies are
suitable for society. But it’s impossible to consolidate a varied and large number of
views. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together
to form a general consensus. 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 or party in power.

3. Parties are responsible for making laws in a country’s legislature. The laws are debated
and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they go
by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their individual opinions.
4. Parties form and run governments or they perform executive roles. As we know, the
big policy decisions are taken by political executives that come from the political
parties. Parties train leaders and then make them ministers to run the government in
the way they want.

5. Parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by
voicing different views and criticising the government for its policy failures or wrong
ideas. Opposition parties also mobilise masses opposed to the government.

6. Parties shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues. Parties have lakhs of
members spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are the extensions
of political parties among different sections of society.

7. Parties provide people knowledge of government machinery and welfare schemes

implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen, it is easier to approach a local
party leader than a government official. That is why they approach political parties
even when they do not fully trust them.

Necessity:

This list of functions clearly answers the question asked: why do we need political parties?
Because they perform all the aforesaid functions. But we still need to ask why political
parties are indispensable in modern democracies? We can understand the necessity of
political parties by taking a condition into consideration: if every candidate in the elections
will be independent, no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any
policy changes, let alone major or minor. The government may be formed, but its future
and utility will remain ever uncertain. Elected representatives will be accountable to their
constituency for what they do in the locality. But responsibility and accountability on a
major level will be void.

Party systems:

There are three types of party systems- one party system, two party system, and
multiparty system. One party system is not a democratic system: for example, in China. In
China, only Communist Party of China (CCP) and its allied parties are allowed to participate
in elections thus limiting the power in one hand. The two party system as in the USA has
been popular since democracy became popular. In this system, two parties lead different
value systems of politics. The multiparty system became popular in diverse countries
where multiple factions and communities are present. For example, in India due to its vast
diversity, the prudent choice was to go with a multi-party system. In this system, the
political system can be quite unstable sometimes and an alliance system is adopted to
counter these situations.
The party system is not something any country can choose in some discussions. It evolves
over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its
history of politics and system of elections. These cannot be changed very quickly. Each
country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances. For
example, if India has adopted a multiparty system, it is because the social and
geographical diversity in such a large country can’t be easily absorbed by two or even
three parties. In simple words, there is no ideal system for all countries and all situations.

Parties in India:

Parties in India are part of the multiparty system in which political parties are further
divided into- National Parties, State parties, and Regional parties.

National parties

These parties have nationwide presence, and they follow policies of national interest and
uniform programs/strategies.

The Election Commission has given criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a
party must get in order to be a recognized party.

A party that secures at least six per cent 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.
A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or
in assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is
recognized as a national party.

At present, there are 9 national political parties in India. AAP or Aam Aadmi Party is the
newest addition. Older ones are BJP, INC, NCP, AITC, CPI(M), CPI, BSP, and NPP. Let’s
study about the oldest six.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP):

Formed in 1999 after a split in the Congress party. The main ideas of the party are
democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice, and federalism. A major party in
Maharashtra and has a significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur, and Assam. This party
is a coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress. Since 2004,
it has been a trusted member of the United Progressive Alliance.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP):

It was formed in 1984 under the vision of Kanshi Ram. It seeks to represent and secure
power for the Bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis, backwards and religious
minorities. It draws ideological inspiration from the teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma
Phule, Periyar Ramaswamy Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Stands for the cause of
securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people. It has its main base
in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and substantial presence in neighbouring states like
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Punjab. The only government it
formed was in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking the support of different parties at
different times. In the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, it polled about 5 per cent votes
and secured 19 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Indian National Congress (INC):

It is India’s oldest political party and popularly known as the Congress Party. One of the
oldest parties of the oldest parties of the world. Founded in 1885 and has experienced
many splits. Played a dominant role in Indian politics at the national and state level for
several decades after India’s Independence. Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the
party sought to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. Ruling party at the
centre till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined, but it continues
to be present throughout the country, cutting across social divisions. 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.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP):

It was founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bhartiya Jana Sangh based on the
ideologue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. It wants to build a strong and modern India by
drawing inspiration from India’s ancient cultural values. Cultural nationalism is an
important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics. It wants full
territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India which it achieved, a
uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion and ban on
religious conversions. Its support base increased exponentially in the 1990s.

Communist Party of India (CPI):

● It was founded in 1964 and believed in Marxist-Leninist philosophy.

● Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and
communalism.
● Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura, especially among the poor,
factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers.
● Was in power in West Bengal without a break for 34 years under the leadership of Jyoti
Basu for 24 years alone.
● In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it won about 1.75 percent of votes and 3 seats.

State parties:

Parties like the Samajwadi Party and Rastriya Janta Dal have national level political
organisations with units in several states. Some of these parties like Biju Janta Dal, Sikkim
Democratic Front, Mizo National Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi are based on their
state identity.

Importance of State Parties

● State parties have made the Indian parliament more and more diverse.
● No one national party was able to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha, until 2014. As a
result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties.
● Since 1996, nearly every one of the State parties has got an opportunity to be part of
one or the other national level coalition government.
● This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy in our country.

Challenges to political party system in India:

Lack of democracy:

The first challenge is the lack of internal democracy within parties. 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. As a result, the leaders assume greater
power to make decisions in the name of the party.

Dynastic succession:

The second challenge of dynastic succession is related to the first one. Since most political
parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their functioning, there are
very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Those who happen to be
the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even
their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by
members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party.

Muscle and money power:

The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties,
especially during elections. 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.

Lack of Meaningful Choice:

In recent years, there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in
most parts of the world. Those who want really different policies have no option available
to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect different leaders, because the same set of
leaders keep shifting from one party to another, or their agendas remain the same.

Steps to reform political parties:

● Anti-defection law has been passed to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing
parties. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the
seat in the legislature.
● The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals.
Now, it is mandatory for every candidate to file an AFFIDAVIT giving details of his
property and criminal cases pending against him.
● The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to
hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.
● A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be
made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow
its own constitution, to have an independent authority, to act as a judge in case of
party disputes, to 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. Similarly, there should be a quota for women
in the decision-making bodies of the party.