political parties
TRANSCRIPT
Political Parties
By Mr. Siddharth Chandrasekar
Why do we need political parties ?
• To organise elections and to form Governments
• It is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the Government
What is a political party?
What do political parties do?
• They agree on policies and programmes to promote collective good
• Persuade people to know why their policies are better than others
• They seek to implement policies by winning popular support through elections
• They reflect fundamental political divisions in a society
• They are a part of society and involve in partisanship
What are the three components of a political party?
• Leaders• Active Members• Followers
Functions of a Political Party...
• They contest elections, select candidates & puts forward policies
• They make a decisive role in making laws• Parties form and run Governments• Opposition checks the Government and
preserves democracy• Parties shape public opinion• Parties provide people access to Government
machinery and welfare schemes
What will be the situation without Political Parties ?
• Independent candidates will be there• No promise would be made with regard to
policy changes• Governmental unity will be at stake• Representatives will be accountable to their
constituency but not responsible to run it
What are the needs fulfilled by Political Parties ?
• Representation• Parties gather views on various issues and
present it to the Government• Parties bring various representatives to form
responsible Government• Parties have the mechanism to support or
restrain Government, make policies, justify or oppose them
• Parties are a necessary condition for democracy
How many parties should we have?
• One party system• Example - China – Communist Party of China
• Two Party /Bi Party• Example - U.S.A. and U.K.
• Multi Party –several parties compete and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power on their own strength or in alliance(coalition government)
• Example - India
What is an Alliance or Front ?• Joining of several parties for contesting elections
and winning power
• Political scenario becomes messy• Political instability• Various interests and opinions to enjoy political
representation
• Social and geographical diversity is not easily absorbed by two or three parties
Effects of multi party system...
Why has India gone in for a multi party system?
Political Parties...National Parties• They have units in various states .Have same policies,
programmes and strategy that is decided at national level • Secure at least 6% of votes in Lok Sabha or assembly
elections in 4 states and win at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha• Example - Congress I, Bharatiya Janata Party
What are recognised political parties?• They are recognised by the Election Commission by
giving symbols• Only official candidates can use these symbols
Political Parties…
State Party• Must have secured 6% of total votes in an
election to legislature of a state and win at least 2 seats
• Example DMK, Telugu Desam & AIADMK
Name some State Parties that have National level political organisations ?
• Samajwadi Party, Samata Party & Rashtriya Janata Dal
What are the challenges to Political Parties ?
Lack of Internal Democracy• Concentration of power in one or few leaders• No membership register, no meetings, no internal elections
and insufficient information for ordinary members• They do not have scope to influence decisions
Dynasty Succession • Leaders have unfair advantage to favour people close to
them• Do not practice open and transparent procedure for
functioning• Top positions always controlled by family members
What are the challenges to Political Parties ?
Money & Muscle Power• They focus on elections• Use short cut methods to win• Moneyed candidates come to power• Rich tend to influence• Criminals are supported in order to win elections
Offering of Meaningful Choice • Decline in ideological differences• Agreement on fundamental aspects• Narrowing down of differences on economic policies• No choice of leadership
How can we reform Political Parties?
• Elected MLA’S & MP’S should not defect• Reduction of influence of money• Parties to hold their organisational elections & file income
tax returns• Regulation of internal affairs of political parties• Mandatory for political parties to give minimum number of
tickets• State funding of elections• People can petition political parties• Political parties can improve if those who want
improvement, join parties