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 Amit shah
3. Communist Party of India CPI 1925 A.B. Bardhan
4.
Communist Party of India
(Marxist
CPI (M) 1964 Prakash Karat
5. Indian National Congress INC 1885 Sonia Gandhi
6. Nationalist Congress Party NCP 1999 Sharad Pawar
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 (2004–2014)
14. Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge
Leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad
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 44/ 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 68 / 245
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. Bharatiya Janata Party
भारतीय जनता पार्टी
Chairperson Amit Shah
Parliamentary
Chairperson
Narendra Modi
Leader in Lok Sabha
Narendra Modi
(Prime Minister)
Leader in Rajya Sabha
Arun Jaitley
(Minister of Finance, Defence &
Corporate Affairs)
Former Prime Minister(s) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Founded 6 April 1980; 34 years ago
Preceded by
Bharatiya Jana Sangh
Janata Party
Headquarters
11 Ashoka Road,
New Delhi 110001
18. Newspaper Kamal Sandesh
Student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
Youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha
Women's wing BJP Mahila Morcha
Peasant's wing BJP Kisan Morcha
Ideology
Hindu nationalism (Hindutva)
Gandhian socialism[1]
Integral humanism
Conservatism
Political position Right wing[2][3]
International affiliation None
Colours Saffron
ECI Status National Party[4]
Alliance National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
Seats in Lok Sabha 282 / 545
[5](
Seats in Rajya Sabha 43 / 245
[6](
19.
20. 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.
21. 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
22.
23. 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.
24. 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)
25. Secretary-General A.B. Bardhan
Headquarters New Delhi, India
Political position Far-left
International
affiliation
International
Conference of
Communist and
Workers' Parties.
Official colours Red
Alliance Left Front
ECI Status National Party
26. Student wing All India Students Federation
Youth wing All India Youth Federation
Women's wing National Federation of Indian Women
Labour wing
All India Trade Union Congress and
Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union
Peasant's wing All India Kisan Sabha (Ajoy Bhavan)
Ideology Communism
International affiliation
International Conference of Communist
and Workers' Parties.
Colours Red
ECI Status National Party[1]
Alliance Left Front
Seats in Lok Sabha
1 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha
2 / 245
Election symbol
27.
28. 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.
29. 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 9/ 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 9 / 250
30.
31. 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.
32.
33. 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 6/ 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha 6/ 250
34. 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.