CBSE - Political Parties

The various functions political parties perform in a democracy are:
→ Candidates are put forward by political parties to contest in elections. These candidates may be chosen by the top leaders, or by members of the party.
→ Parties put forward their policies and programmes for voters to chose from them.
→ Political parties play a major role in making laws for the country. No law can become a bill unless majority parties support it.
→ Political parties form and run governments.
→ Parties that lose election play the role of opposition.to the party in power.
→ Parties shape public opinion.
→ Political parties form an important link between the government and the people. It is easy for the public to approach their local leader than a government official.The local leader has to listen to the public demand, otherwise he will lose the next election.

The various challenges faced by political parties are:

→ Lack of Internal democracy:
• Every member of the party does not have a chance to take part in decision-making process.
• Every member is not consulted before taking a decision.
• There is no proper organisation or registration of members.
• Power remains in the hands of a few top leaders, who do not consult ordinary members.
• Ordinary members have no information about the internal working of the party.

→ Dynastic Succession: With power in the hands of a few top leaders, all party positions go to their family members. These members may not be qualified or have the ability to hold their positions.

→ Money and Muscle Power:
• Money is needed to organise demonstrations, public meetings and speeches to publicise the image of the party. Parties choose those candidates who can raise money for the party and win elections with their money.
• Sometimes parties also support criminals candidates because they can win elections.

→ Meaningful choice to others: Most of the political parties have same fundamental and ideological issues. Voters do not have a meaningful choice. Even leaders keep changing parties, thus confusing the voter.

Some reforms to strengthen parties are:
→ A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties.
→ It should be mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about 1/3rd to the women candidates.
→ There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support the election expenses.

A political party is a group of people who follow an ideology and thus come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

Characteristics of a political party are:
→ A political party has members who agree on some policies and programmes for the society
with a view to promote common good.
→ It seeks to implement the policies by winning popular support through elections.
→ The presence of a leader, the party workers and supporters.
→ It is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

Political Party

	List I	List II
1	Congress Party	A. National Democratic Alliance
2	Bharatiya Janata Party	B. State party
3	Communist Party of India (Marxist)	C. United Progressive Alliance
4	Telugu Desam party	D. Left Front

Answer

Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
A. Kanshi Ram
B. Sahu Maharaj
C. B.R. Ambedker
D. Jotiba Phule

Ans

A. Kanshi Ram

What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party?
A. Bahujan Samaj
B. Revolutionary democracy
C. Integral humanism
D. Modernity

Ans

D. Modernity

Consider the following statements on parties.

A. Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people.

B. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.

C. Parties are not necessary to run governments.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) A, B and C

(b) A and B

(c) B and C

(d) A and C

Ans :

(b) A and B

Q.1: - Which of the following is the most visible institutions in a democracy?
 (a) Leaders (b) Political parties (c) Govt. (d) People
 
Q.2: - How many political parties are registered with the election commission of India?
 (a) Less than 100 (b) Between 100 to 500
 (c) Between 500 to 750 (d) More than 750
 
Q.3: - A Political party has to satisfy the following criteria to be recognized as a national party—
(a) 6% votes of total votes in Lok sabha or assembly elections of four status
(b) At least 6 Lok sabha seats
(c) 12% votes of total votes in Lok sabha
(d) At least 12 Lok sabha seats

Q.4: - How many political parties were recognized as National parties in India in 2006?
 (a) 06 (b) 16 (c) 750 (d) 21
 
Q.5: - How many Lok sabha constituencies are there in India at present?
 (a) 540 (b) 543 (c) 547 (d) 563
 
Q.6: - Area wise which is the largest Lok sabha constituency in India?
 (a) Karol Bag (b) Ghaziabad (c) Mumbai Cart (d) Ladakh

 Q.7:- The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) came to power in 1998 as the leader of
 (a) United progressive Alliance (b) Left front
 (c) National Democratic (d) None of these

 Q.8: - Which party system does India follow—
 (a) Single party system (b) Two party system
 (c) Multi party system (d) All of them

 Q.9: - What is Bye –election?
 (a) Elections held to fill a vacancy caused by the death or any other house.
(b) Election held after a specific period.
(c) Election held to farm the new govt.
(d) Election held in between the fixed term of the house.

Q.10: -Who is the founder of the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP)
 (a) Jyotiba Phule (b) Kanshi Ram
(c) B. R. Ambudkar (d) Maya Vati 

Answer Key of Multiple Choice Questions

1. (B) 4. (A) 7. (C) 10. (B)
2. (D) 5. (A) 8. (C)
3. (A) 6. (D) 9. (A) 

1. Political parties are easily one of the most visible institutions in a democracy.
 2. Far most ordinary citizens, political parties are equal to democracy. 
 3. Political parties helped in making public opinion and farming the govt.

1. More than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in
 alliance with others
2. This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.
3. In India we have multi party system and the coalition govt. for last 15 years which benefits all sections of the population.

 1. It is a group of people coming together to contest elections and share power.
 2. It agrees on some policies and programmers for the society with a view to promote collective good.
 3. It lends to implement there policies by viewing popular support through elections.
 4. It is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interest it upholds.

1. Constructive criticism of govt.
 2. Restriction of arbitrariness of ruling party
 3. Safeguard, liberty and rights of the people
 4. Well prepared to form govt.
 5. Expression of public opinion

1. They educate the masses, through their meetings and propaganda about various problems facing the country
2. Helps in the formation of public opinion
3. They contest elections and try to get the maximum number of their candidates elected
4. They serve as a link between the govt. and the people
5. The party which gets as absolute majority, forms the govt. others form opposition

1. As a society become large and complex they also need some agenesis together with different views on various issues and to present these to the govt.
 2. They need some ways to bring various representatives together so that a responsible govt. can by formed.
3. They need a mechanism to support and restrain the govt. make policies, justify or oppose them.

1. To contest election
 2. Forming policies and programmes
 3. Making laws
 4. Parties form and fun govt.
 5. To play an active role of opposition
 6. Shaping public opinion
 7. Access to govt. machinery and welfare schemes  

Following points can be given with explanation as the challenges of political parties in India—
1. Lack of internal democracy
2. Lack of transparency
3. Use of money and muscle power
4. Not providing meaningful choice to the voter

1. Congress party was founded in 1885 and has experiences many splits.
 2. It was ruling party at the centre till 1977 and then in 1880-89, 2000 to till date
 3. This party supports secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities.
 4. It supports new economic reforms but with a human face.
 5. It emerged as the largest party with 145 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004.
 6. It currently leads the ruling united progressive alliance (UPA) coalition govt. at the centre.