Political Parties — Notes

A political party is an organisation of people who share ideas about policy and contest elections to win power in government. It speaks for one section or viewpoint, so it is partisan. Three components: leaders, active members, followers.

Functions

1. Contest elections. In most Indian parties, top leaders choose candidates; in the USA, members and supporters take part through primaries.
2. Put forward policies and programmes, offering voters a few clear packages to choose from; the winning party's policies guide the government.
3. Make laws: members in legislatures debate and usually vote as the party directs.
4. Form and run governments.
5. Act as the opposition: criticise the government, expose failures, mobilise people.
6. Shape public opinion: raise issues, run campaigns and movements.
7. Give access to government machinery and welfare schemes through local leaders.

Without parties, every candidate would be an independent. Each winner would push only for their own area; nobody could carry out a national programme; and when things went wrong there would be no group to blame or replace. Parties bring representatives together around a programme, so voters know whom to hold accountable. The rise of parties is linked to the rise of representative democracy.

• One-party system: only one party may control the government; no free competition (e.g. China). It fails as a democracy: no choice, no change of power.
• Two-party system: two big parties take turns in power; smaller parties may win a handful of seats but do not govern (e.g. USA, United Kingdom).
• Multi-party system: three or more parties can realistically govern, alone or by teaming up (e.g. India).

An alliance or front is formed when several parties agree to fight an election together and share power; if it wins, it forms a coalition government. Multi-party systems let many interests and regions be represented but can be unstable, since coalitions may fall.

No country simply chooses its party system; it evolves with the society's divisions, history and electoral system. India's social and regional diversity has produced a multi-party system.

Every party registers with the Election Commission. Parties that meet set criteria are recognised and get a unique reserved symbol (reserved for them alone on the ballot) and some other facilities.

Criteria as given in the syllabus

• State party: at least 6% of the votes in a state assembly election and at least 2 seats.
• National party: at least 6% of the votes in Lok Sabha elections or in assembly elections in four states, and at least 4 Lok Sabha seats. (The Commission's full rules include some alternative routes.)

The Commission reviews recognition after elections, so the list changes; check its latest notification. Parties that have long held national recognition include the Indian National Congress (founded 1885; led much of the freedom movement), the Bharatiya Janata Party (founded 1980, from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh of 1951) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (formed 1964). Each sets out its ideology in its own constitution and manifesto.

State parties have grown stronger since the 1990s; many have led state governments and joined coalitions at the centre, giving regional concerns a louder voice.

Challenges

1. Lack of internal democracy: many keep no list of members and hold no internal elections, so a small group at the top takes the decisions.
2. Dynastic succession: top posts pass within one family; members without family links are passed over.
3. Money and muscle power: tickets for those who can spend heavily or have criminal influence; donors may seek influence over policy.
4. Lack of meaningful choice: policy differences between major parties have narrowed; leaders switch parties.

Reforms already made

• Anti-defection law (constitutional amendment, 1985): an elected member who changes party loses the seat; it has also made party leaders more powerful.
• Affidavits: after a Supreme Court order, candidates declare property and pending criminal cases.
• Election Commission order: parties must hold organisational elections and file income tax returns.

Suggested reforms: a law on internal democracy (members' register, party constitution, open elections, an independent authority to settle disputes); a minimum share of tickets for women and women in decision bodies; state funding of elections (in kind or in cash linked to votes). Caution: over-regulation could be misused by the ruling party against rivals. Public pressure (petitions, media, movements) and more citizens joining parties are essential.