2. What are political parties?
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 a society with a
view to promote collective good.
A political party has three main components-
1.The leaders
2.The active members and
3. The supporters.
3. Functions of the political
parties
Parties contest elections.
Parties form and run governments in country.
Parties put different policies and programmes.
Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a
country.
Those parties that lose in the elections play the
role of opposition to the parties in power.
Parties shape public opinion by raising and
highlighting issues.
Parties provide people access to gov.t machinery
and welfare schemes implemented.
4. What a common Indian think
about political parties?
Most people in India tend to be very critical of
political parties. They blame parties for all the
wrong with our democracy and our political life.
the parties were also identified with social and
political divisions in our country.
5. Why do we need
political parties?
We can understand the necessity of political parties by
imagining a situation where political parties doesn’t exist.
Every candidate in the elections will be independent , so no
candidate will be able to make any promises to the people
about any major changes. The government may be formed
but its utility will remain ever uncertain. Elected
representatives will be accountable to their consistuency
only. No one will be responsible for how the country will
be run
6. Different party systems in the world
Single dominant party
In one party systems ,one political party is legally allowed to hold effective power.
Although minor parties may sometimes be allowed, they are legally required to
accept the leadership of the dominant party. This party may not always be identical
to the government, although sometimes positions within the party may in fact be
more important than positions within the government. China is an example;
Two political parties
Two party systems are states such as United States of America in which there are
two political parties dominant to such an extent that electoral success under the
banner of any other party is almost impossible. One right wing coalition party and
one left wing coalition party .
7. Multiple political parties
A poster for the European parliament election 2004 in Italy, showing party lists
Multi party systems are systems in which more than two parties are represented
and elected to public office.
Australia ,Canada ,Pakistan ,India ,Ireland ,United Kingdom and Norway are
examples of countries with two strong parties and additional smaller parties that
have also obtained representation. The smaller or "third" parties may form a part of
a coalition government together with one of the larger parties or act independently
from the other dominant parties.
More commonly, in cases where there are three or more parties, no one party is likely
to gain power alone, and parties work with each other to form coalition
government .
8. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN
PARTY SYSTEM
1. Multiple Party system – In 2006 – national parties -6;
regional parties -35, non – recognized parties – 612,
2. Rise of Effective Opposition Party
3. Independent Members
4. Existence of many Communal and Regional Parties
5. Absence of Specific Constitutional Provision - Article 19(C)
-All citizens shall have the right to form associations or
unions.
-
9. Types of political parties
There are two types of political parties –
1.National parties – A party that secures at least 6% of the
total votes in lok sabha elections or assembly elections in four
states and win at least 4 seats in lok sabha is recognized as a
national party.
2.State / Regional parties – A party that secures atleast 6% of
the of the total votes in state legislative assembly elections
and wins at least 2 seats is recognized as state party.
10. MAJOR NATIONAL
POLITICAL PARTIES
S.N. Symbol Flag Name Acronym Year Party leader
1. Bahujan Samaj Party BSP 1984 Mayawati
2. Bharatiya Janata Party BJP 1980 Nitin Gadkari
Communist Party of
3. CPI 1925 A.B. Bardhan
India
Communist Party of
4. CPI (M) 1964 Prakash Karat
India (Marxist
Indian National
5. INC 1885 Sonia Gandhi
Congress
Nationalist Congress
6. NCP 1999 Sharad Pawar
Party
11.
12. INDIAN NATIONAL
CONGRESS (INC)
One of the oldest parties of the world
. Founded in 1885 by members of
the occultist movementTheosophical Society—Allan Octavian
Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, Womesh Chandra
Bonnerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Monomohun Ghose, and Mahadev
Govind Ranade
It played a important role in the independence of India.
It was a ruling party till 1977 after independence.
A centrist party in its ideological orientation, the party espouses
secularism and welfare of weaker sections.
Currently leads the ruling united progressive alliance.
The party's political symbol is hand
13. Prime Ministers of the Republic
of India from the Indian
National Congress
Jawaharlal Nehru (1947–1964)
Gulzarilal Nanda (May–June 1964 and in
January 1966)
Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964–1966)
Indira Gandhi (1966–1977, 1980–1984)
Rajiv Gandhi (1984–1989)
P.V. Narasimha Rao (1991–1996)
Manmohan Singh (2004–)
14. Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Leader in Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee
Leader in Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh
Headquarters 24, Akbar Road,
New Delhi, 110011
Student wing National Students Union
of India
Youth wing Indian Youth Congress
Women's wing Mahila Congress
Labour wing Indian National Trade
Union Congress
Political position Center-left
International affiliation Alliance of Democrats
Official colours Aqua
ECI Status National Party
Alliance United Progressive
Alliance (UPA)
Seats in Lok Sabha 205 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 70 / 250
15.
16. BHARTIYA JANTA
PARTY (BJP)
The BJP is the current form of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana
Sangh (BJS, Indian People's Union), which was founded in
October 21, 1951 by Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Believes in Indian Nationalism (Hindu
Nationalism),Integral humanism, Economic liberalism,
Gandhian Socialism, Conservatism, Social conservatism.
Came to power in 1998 as the leader of national democratic
alliance.
Earlier limited to the northern and western parts of the
country.
The principal opposition party in lok sabha.
The party's political symbol is a lotus
17. Chairperson Nitin Gadkari
Leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj
Leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley
Preceded by Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Headquarters 11 Ashoka Road,
New Delhi, 110001
Newspaper Kamal Sandesh
Youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha
Women's wing BJP Mahila Morcha
Labour wing Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
Peasant's wing Bharatiya Kisan Sangh
Political position Centre-right
Official colours Orange
ECI Status National Party
Seats in Lok Sabha 116 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 51 / 250
18.
19. BAHUJAN SAMAJ
PARTY (BSP)
It was formed in 1984 under the leadership of
Kanshi Ram.
Stands for the cause of securing the interests and
welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.
It’s main base is in Uttar Pradesh and substantial
presence in neighbouring states.
The party's political symbol is an Elephant.
20. Chairperson Mayawati
Secretary-General Satish Chandra Mishra
Leader in Lok Sabha Rajesh Verma
Leader in Rajya Sabha Urmilesh Kumar Bharti
Headquarters 12, Gurudwara Rakabganj
Road,
New Delhi - 110001
Political position Center
Official colours Blue
ECI Status National Party
Seats in Lok Sabha 21 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 18 / 250
21.
22. COMMUNIST PARTY
OF INDIA (CPI)
It was formed in 1925. The founding members of the
party were M.N. Roy, Evelyn Trent Roy (Roy's
wife), Abani Mukherji, Rosa Fitingof(Abani's wife),
Mohammad Ali (Ahmed Hasan), Mohammad Shafiq
Siddiqui and M.P.B.T. Acharya.
It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and
democracy.
Became weak after the split in the party in1964.
Has significant presence in the states of Kerala
,West Bengal ,Punjab ,Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu.
23. The principal mass
organizations of the CPI are:
All India Trade Union Congress
All India Youth Federation
All India Students Federation
National Federation of Indian Women
All India Kisan Sabha(peasants organization)
Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union(agricultural
workers)
All India State Government Employees
Federation (State government employees)
24. Secretary-General A.B. Bardhan
Headquarters New Delhi, India
Political position Far-left
International International
affiliation Conference of
Communist and
Workers' Parties.
Official colours Red
Alliance Left Front
ECI Status National Party
25.
26. COMMUNIST PARTY OF
INDIA –MARXIST (CPI-M)
It was founded in 1964 due to a split in communist
party of India.
It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and
democracy and opposes imperialism and
communalism.
Enjoys strong support in West Bengal ,Kerala ,and
Tripura.
Has been in power in West Bengal without a break
for 30 years.
27. Secretary-General Prakash Karat
Leader in Lok Sabha Basudev Acharia
Leader in Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechuri
Headquarters New Delhi, India
Student wing Students Federation of
India
Youth wing Democratic Youth
Federation of India
Women's wing All India Democratic
Womens Association
Labour wing Centre of Indian Trade
Unions
Peasant's wing All India Kisan Sabha
Political position Far-left
ECI Status National Party
Alliance Left Front
Seats in Lok Sabha 16 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 15 / 250
28.
29. NATIONAL CONGRESS
PARTY (NCP)
It was formed in 1999 due to a split in Indian national
congress.
Espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity,
social just.ice and federalism.
Wants that high offices in government must be confined
to natural born citizens of India.
It is a major party in Maharashtra and. significant
presence in Meghalaya ,Manipur and Assam.
A member of United Progressive Alliance.
30. Chairperson Sharad Pawar
Founded 1999
Headquarters 10, Bishambhar Das
Marg,New Delhi, 110001
Political position Centre/Centre left
Official colours Aqua
Alliance United Progressive Alliance
ECI Status National Party
Seats in Lok Sabha 9 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 7 / 250
31.
32. Name Year Party leader States
All India Anna Dravida 1972 J. Jayalalitha Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry
Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Forward Bloc 1939 Debabrata Biswas West Bengal
All India Trinamool Congress 1998 Mamata Banerjee Arunachal Pradesh,
Asom Gana Parishad 1985 Prafulla Kumar Assam
Mahanta
Biju Janata Dal 1997 Naveen Patnaik Orissa
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 1949 M Karunanidhi Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry
Indian National Lok Dal 1999 Om Prakash Chautala Haryana
Jammu & Kashmir National 1932 Omar Abdullah Jammu and Kashmir
Conference
Jammu & Kashmir National NA Bhim Singh Jammu and Kashmir
Panthers Party
Jammu and Kashmir People's 1998 Mufti Mohammed Jammu and Kashmir
Democratic Party Sayeed
33. Name Year Party leader States
Janata Dal (Secular) 1999 H.D. Deve Gowda Karnataka Kerala
Janata Dal (United) 1999 Nitish kumar Bihar
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha 1972 Shibu Soren Jharkhand Orissa
Kerala Congress 1964 P.J. Joseph Kerala
Kerala Congress (M) 1979 C.F. Thomas Kerala
Lok Jan Shakti Party 2000 Ram Vilas Paswan Bihar
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena 2006 Raj Thackeray Maharashtra
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party 1963 Shashikala Kakodkar Goa
Manipur People's Party 1968 O. Joy Singh Manipur
Mizo National Front 1959 Pu Zoramthanga Mizoram
Mizoram People's Conference 1972 Pu Lalhmingthanga Mizoram
Muslim League Kerala State 1948 G.M. Banatwalla Kerala
Committee
Nagaland People's Front 2002 Neiphiu Rio Nagaland
Pattali Makkal Katchi 1989 G. K. Mani Tamil Nadu
34. Name Year Party leader States
Praja Rajyam Party 2008 Chiranjeevi Andhra Prades
Pudhucherry Munnetra Congress 2005 P. Kannan Pondicherry
Revolutionary Socialist Party 1940 T.J. Chandrachoodan West Bengal
Samajwadi Party 1992 Mulayam Singh Yadav Uttar Pradesh
Save Goa Front NA Churchill Alemao Goa
Shiromani Akali Dal 1920 Parkash Singh Badal Punjab
Shiv Sena 1966 Bal Thackeray Maharashtra
Sikkim Democratic Front 1993 Pawan Kumar Chamling Sikkim
Telangana Rashtra Samithi 2001 K. Chandrashekar Rao Andhra Pradesh
United Democratic Party NA Donkupar Roy Meghalaya
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal 1979 Bipin Chandra Tripathi Uttarakhand
Zoram Nationalist Party 1997 Lalduhoma Mizoram
35. Challenges to political parties
Lack of internal democracy
The lack of internal democracy within parties manifests in the following:
Parties do not keep membership registers
Parties do not hold organizational meetings.
Parties do not conduct internal elections regularly.
Ordinary members do not have sufficient information about the party.
All powers get centralized among the top leaders.
36. Challenges to political parties
Dynastic succession
Dynastic succession is a feature common to most of the political
parties, both at the national and state level where top positions in the
party become hereditary. others members cannot even aspire to reach
these positions.
Growing role of money and muscle
The role of money and muscle is on the rise in almost all the parties. Those
with money and muscle power begin to control the various organs of the
party.
37. How can parties be reformed
They can be reformed by
Maintaining a regular register of its members.
Makings rules and regulations.
Holding elections for higher posts in the party.
Giving more tickets to the women.
Giving funds to parties for elections.
