Enumerate The Different Features And Needs Of Political Parties
The Indian Political Climate consists of several different political parties that contest all the elections in our country to select a particular government.
Because we have these political parties and the right to vote for the one we prefer, Democracy has been strong and steady in our country. So, it can be said without a single speck of doubt that having political parties means a proper and healthy situation for any nation.
Here we are going to learn about the functions of political parties and much more. Students will also get to learn the different features that make up a political party and what role it plays in democracy.
Introduction to Political Parties
A political party is made up of a specific group of people who come together to compete against each other to run a government that will be able to take care of the country's needs for the better.
Political parties are basically created in order to make sure that the country has a group of people to lead it. Not to mention that it provides the people of the country with a particular choice to make an effective and more evolved decision about the government that they have.
Apart from that, the aspiration to win an election also drives other political parties to perform well and gather more votes than their competitors.
So, it can be said that the functions of political parties are certainly very important for the betterment of the country. The party that ends up getting most of the votes will be the one winning the elections, i.e., in India, the party in majority runs the government. At times, when a single party does not secure a significant number of seats in Parliament or in state legislative assembly they opt for coalition government.
However, in today's political climate, political parties also run for the benefit of having a significant share of power while running the government.
It enables the voters to have a voice and promote the common interests and goals in the country.
The main role of political parties in India is to make sure that several political policies and agendas are being created and fixed for the welfare of the people and betterment of the country.
So, that is one of the main reasons why every single political party tries to ensure the people believe the claims of their policies and end up voting for them.
If seen from a broader view, with the help of a political party, the people will be able to send their messages to the government on the needs and requirements of the country. Every single political party must have some important components:
The Leader: This person has the primary responsibility for all the activities done by the party.
Active Members: The people who have the responsibility of selecting their leader.
Followers: People who can support, volunteer, donate, and vote for the party's running candidates.
Functions of Political Parties
There are several functions a political party has. A political party needs to perform these functions even to be considered a political party in the first place.
We are going to list some of these functions and features of a political party so that you can understand them in a better way. These functions include:
Putting up specific candidates that will help in the elections.
In India, the party's top leaders are responsible for selecting the candidate for their parties. Whereas in the USA, members and the party's supporters can select their candidates.
A party includes different policies and programs. Voters have the choice to vote for the party whose policies and programs they support.
The parties who do not win this election and do not get a chance to form their government are called Opposition. These parties generally have different opinions and points of view regarding the functioning of the government.
Another critical function that a political party has is forming people's opinions in our country. The function here is forming various pressure groups, which in turn help the launching of various movements to solve people's problems and wants.
Political Parties also have access to different welfare schemes of the government.
One of the major features of political parties in India is to ensure that the country has proper schemes of welfare.
Need of Political Parties
Without different political parties, there would be no existence of Democracy in a country. This would not give the people of a country any power to form their government.
Since there will be no responsibility for handling the country, this will lead to a single power ruling over the nation. This single power will then impose its ideologies on the entire public, consisting of people from different cultures, religions, beliefs, and economic statuses.
Conclusion:
So, it can be said safely after reading the above text that having a political party is really important. They are the backbone of our country. They are the ones we elect to safeguard our Constitution and serve us. Socio-Economic upliftment happens through our chosen representatives.
FAQs on What are Political Parties?
1. What is a political party and what are its three main components as per the CBSE Class 10 syllabus?
A political party 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 promoting the collective good. The three main components of a political party are:
- The Leaders: The top-level individuals who formulate policies, make major decisions, and are chosen as candidates for elections.
- The Active Members: These are the members who are involved in party activities, participate in meetings, and work to spread the party's ideology at the grassroots level.
- The Followers: These are ordinary citizens who believe in the party's ideology and policies, and show their support by voting for the party during elections.
2. What are the primary functions of a political party in a democracy?
Political parties perform several crucial functions in a democratic system. The most important ones include:
- Contesting Elections: Parties select and field candidates to contest in elections.
- Forming Policies and Programmes: They put forward different policies and programmes, and voters choose from them. A party consolidates a multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports.
- Making Laws: When a party wins an election, it forms the government and plays a decisive role in making laws for the country. Laws are debated and passed by the legislature, which is mostly composed of members of political parties.
- Forming and Running Governments: The party that wins a majority of seats forms the ruling government and is responsible for its day-to-day functioning.
- Playing the Role of Opposition: Parties that lose the elections play the role of the opposition. They criticise the government for its failures or wrong policies and keep a check on the ruling party's power.
- Shaping Public Opinion: They raise and highlight issues, launch movements, and use media to shape what people think about the state of the nation.
3. Why are political parties considered a necessity for modern democracies?
Political parties are essential for modern democracies because they are the vehicles that make representative democracy work. Without them, every candidate in an election would be independent, making it impossible to form a stable government or make coherent policy promises to the people. Parties aggregate diverse interests, present clear policy choices, and provide a mechanism for holding the government accountable. They connect citizens to the governmental machinery, enabling large-scale societies to sustain a democratic form of government.
4. What is the difference between a one-party, two-party, and multi-party system? Provide an example of each.
The difference lies in the number of parties that have a realistic chance of winning elections and forming the government.
- One-Party System: Only one party is allowed to control and run the government. This is not a democratic option as there is no fair competition. Example: The Communist Party in China.
- Two-Party System: Power usually changes between two main parties. Several other parties may exist but have a minimal chance of winning a majority. Example: The United States (Democrats and Republicans) and the United Kingdom (Conservative and Labour parties).
- Multi-Party System: Several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power, either on their own or in alliance with others (forming a coalition government). Example: India, which has a multi-party system where alliances like the NDA and I.N.D.I.A. are common.
5. What are the conditions a political party must meet to be recognised as a National Party in India for the 2025-26 academic session?
According to the Election Commission of India, a party is recognised as a National Party if it fulfils any one of the following three conditions:
- The party wins at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) from at least three different states.
- The party is recognised as a State Party in at least four states.
- In a general election to the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, the party polls 6% of the valid votes in any four or more states and, in addition, it wins four Lok Sabha seats from any state or states.
6. What are some examples of National Parties in India?
As per the latest recognition status from the Election Commission of India, there are six recognised National Parties. For the 2025-26 CBSE syllabus, these are:
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Indian National Congress (INC)
- Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI(M)
- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
- National People's Party (NPP)
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
7. What are the four major challenges faced by political parties in India today?
Political parties in India face several significant challenges that can undermine their effectiveness and democratic character. The four key challenges are:
- Lack of Internal Democracy: Many parties concentrate power in the hands of one or a few top leaders. Ordinary members often have no say in major decisions, and organisational elections are rarely held.
- Dynastic Succession: Top positions in many parties are often controlled by members of one family. This practice is unfair to other members and bad for democracy as it prevents deserving leaders from rising.
- Money and Muscle Power: Parties often depend on rich candidates and companies for funds, which can influence their policies. During elections, the use of 'muscle power' to win votes has become a major concern.
- Lack of Meaningful Choice: In recent years, the ideological differences between major parties have reduced. This leaves voters with very few meaningful choices, as parties often agree on fundamental economic policies.
8. How can political parties be reformed to strengthen Indian democracy?
Reforming political parties is crucial for the health of a democracy. Some key suggestions and recent measures include:
- Anti-Defection Law: The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This law states that if any representative changes their party, they will lose their seat in the legislature.
- Affidavit Requirement: The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. It is now mandatory for every candidate to file an affidavit giving details of their property and any criminal cases pending against them.
- Internal Regulation: There is a strong need for a law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties, such as mandating regular organisational elections and maintaining a register of members.
- State Funding of Elections: Many suggest that the government should give parties money to support their election expenses. This could help reduce the influence of large private donations.
9. How does the role of a ruling party differ from that of an opposition party?
The roles of the ruling party and the opposition party are fundamentally different but equally important for a functioning democracy.
- The ruling party is the one that has won a majority of seats and forms the government. Its primary role is to govern, which includes implementing its policies, making laws, managing the country's administration, and running various government departments.
- The opposition party, on the other hand, consists of parties that did not win the majority. Its main role is to act as a watchdog. It critically examines the actions and policies of the government, points out its failures, and holds it accountable to the public. It also provides an alternative government-in-waiting, ready to take power if the ruling party loses its majority.
10. In the context of political reforms, what is meant by 'defection' and why is it considered a challenge to democracy?
Defection refers to an elected representative leaving the party on whose symbol they were elected and joining another party. This is considered a major challenge to democracy because it betrays the mandate given by the voters. People vote for a candidate partly because of their affiliation with a specific party and its ideology. When a representative defects, often for personal gain like a cash reward or a ministerial position, it undermines the democratic process, leads to political instability, and shows disrespect for the electoral verdict. The Anti-Defection Law was enacted to curb this practice.
