Political Parties – PYQs – Answers

Ans. In a democracy political parties performed the following major functions:

(i) In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways. In India top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.

(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments. A government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by the Ruling party.

(iii) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.

(iv) Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.

(v) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power by voicing different views and criticising government for its failure or wrong policies.

(vi) Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in the society crystallise on the lines parties take.

(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

Ans. “Political parties are necessary condition for a democracy” because:

(i) We cannot think modern democracies without political parties. In case there are no political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent, no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes. The government may be formed, but its utility will remain always uncertain.

(ii) Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they do in the locality. But, no one will be responsible for how the country will run. Just look at the non-party based elections to the Panchayats in many states.

(iii) Political parties agree on policies and programmes to promote collective good and influence people to know why their policy is better than others. They try to implement the policies by winning popular support through elections. They reflect fundamental division in a society.

(iv) The absence of political parties would affect a democracy badly. The interest of all the people would not reach the Parliament, and, therefore, some sections of people would remain behind the mainstream. They won’t get all the welfare measures.

(v) The role of opposition party in a democracy necessitates the existence of political parties.

Ans. Functions of the ruling parties:

(i) They play a major role in making laws for the country.

(ii) They form the government and run the country.

(iii) They recruit leaders, train them and then make ministers to run the government.

Functions of the opposition parties:

(i) They oppose the government by voicing different views.

(ii) They criticise government for its failure and wrong policies.

(iii) They mobilise opposition to the government

Ans. In a democracy political parties performed the following major functions:

(i) In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways. In India top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.

(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments. A government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by the Ruling party.

(iii) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.

(iv) Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.

(v) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power by voicing different views and criticising government for its failure or wrong policies.

(vi) Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in the society crystallise on the lines parties take.

(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments.

Ans. The role of opposition party in democracy:

(i) To criticise the government for its failures or wrong policies.

(ii) They mobilise opposition to the government.

(iii) To check the government from becoming authoritarian and restrict its powers.

(iv) To safeguard the liberty and rights of the people.

(v) They have the right to check the undue expenditure of the government.

(vi) During the question hour, the opposition parties criticise the government generally.

Ans. Main features of two-party system:

(i) Power usually changes between two parties; several other parties may exist.

(ii) In such system, people get clear choice.

(iii) The party that wins majority forms the government and the other sits in opposition.

(iv) Strong opposition is good for democracy.

(v) Prompt decisions are taken and implemented.

(vi) More development and less corruption.

Ans. If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multi-party system. India adopted a multi-party system because:

(i) There is social and geographical diversity in India.

(ii) India is such a large country which is not easily absorbed by two or three parties.

(iii) The system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

Ans. In bi-party system, the government is formed by one party and the other plays the role of opposition. Bi-party in some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. It is also known as two party system.

Merit: This system allows stability of government as no coalition is there.

Demerit: In this system, only two main parties have a serious chance of winning majority seats to form the government.

Ans. (i) We cannot think modern democracies without political parties. In case there are no political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent, no one will be able to make any promises to the people about any major policy changes. The government may be formed, but its utility will remain always uncertain.

(ii) Elected representatives will be account- able to their constituency for what they do in the locality. But, no one will be responsible for how the country will run. Just look at the non-party based elections to the Panchayats in many states. Although, the parties do not contest formally, it is generally noticed that the village gets split into more than one faction, each of which puts up a ‘panel’ of its candidates. This is why we find political parties in almost all countries of the world.

(iii) Political parties agree on policies and programmes to promote collective good and influence people to know why their policy is better than others. They try to implement the policies by winning popular support through elections. They reflect fundamental division in a society.

(iv) The absence of political parties would affect a democracy badly. The interest of all the people would not reach the Parliament and, therefore, some sections of people would remain behind the mainstream. They won’t get all the welfare measures.

Ans. If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multi-party system.

Merits:

(i) This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

(ii) People can make a choice between several candidates.

Demerits:

(i) No one party is likely to gain power alone. Therefore, it leads to difficulty in formation of government.

(ii) Leads to political instability and often appears to be very messy.

Ans. A party that secures at least six percent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

Ans. National political party have units in the various states, they follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.

 Conditions required:

(i) A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or assembly elections in four states.

(ii) Wins at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha.

Ans. The national political party which espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities is the Indian National Congress. Four features of this party are listed below:

(i) Founded in 1885.

(ii) Dominated Indian politics, both at the national and state levels, for several decades after India’s independence.

(iii) Ruling party at the centre till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined.

(iv) A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation.

Ans. 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 promote the collective good. Ideology of BJP:

(i) Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

(ii) A uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion.

(iii) Cultural nationalism.

Ans. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj.

Features of BSP:

(i) It stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.

(ii) It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab.

(iii) It formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking support of different parties at different times.

Ans. A regional party is a party that is present in only some states. Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a regional political party are:

(i) A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state.

(ii) Wins at least two seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Ans. Jharkhand – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)

Maharashtra – Shiv Sena

Odisha – Biju Janata Dal (BJD)

Ans. State parties seeking national level coalition: Before general election of 2014, in three general elections, no one national party was able to secure on its Own a majority in Lok Sabha. With the result, the national parties were compelled to form alliances with state or regional parties. Since 1996, nearly every one of the state parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition government. This has contributed to the strengthening of federalism and democracy.

Ans. The difference between a state and a national party can be identified as follows:

(i) In a state party, the party members aim to highlight the regional interests. On the other hand, a national party gives due importance to national interests.

(ii) A state party can contest in elections only in a particular state, whereas a national party can contest in elections all across the country.

(iii) Example: BJP and Congress are national parties, whereas Akali Dal and Trinamool Congress are state level parties.

Ans. Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties. Parties that are present in only one of the federal units and parties that are present in several or all units of the federation. Those parties which are countrywide parties are called national parties.

State and National Parties:

(i) A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

(ii) A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party

Ans. Dynastic succession is one of the most serious challenges before the political parties because:

(i) Most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning.

(ii) There are few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.

(iii) In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.

(iv) This practice is unfair to other members of that party and is also bad for a democracy.

(v) People who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy position of power.

Ans. People express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well because:

(i) Lack of internal democracy within parties.

(ii) Dynastic succession. Growing role of money and muscle power in parties.

(iii) There is not a meaningful choice to the voters.

Ans. The challenges faced by political parties in India are:

(i) Lack of internal democracy.

(ii) Challenge of dynastic succession

(iii) Growing role of money and muscle power.

(iv) Often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters

Ans. (i) The first problem is lack of internal democracy within parties. Concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top.

(ii) Favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.

(iii) The third problem is about growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections.

(iv) The fourth problem is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters.

Ans. Challenges faced by political parties are:

(i) Lack of internal democracy: All over the world, there is a tendency of political parties towards the concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top.

• Parties do not keep membership register.

• They do not regularly hold organisational meetings.

• Ordinary members of the party do not have sufficient informations as to what happens inside the party.

• As a result, the leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party.

(ii) Dynastic Succession: Most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning.

• There are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.

• In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party.

• Some people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy good positions of power.

(iii) Money and Muscle Power

• Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections. • They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money.

• Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.

• In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.

• Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.

(iv) Meaningful Choice: In recent years, there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.

• Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.

• Sometimes people cannot elect very different people either because some group of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.

(v) Corruption: It adversely affects the economy of the country. It is the big reason of inequalities in the societies and communities. Sometimes leaders use their powers to earn illegal money in spite of working for the country’s benefits.

Ans. There are various reasons for lack of internal democracy within the political parties in India:

(i) Concentration of power in one or a few leaders at the top.

(ii) Details of membership are not registered in the parties.

(iii) No organisational meetings.

(iv) No internal elections for membership within the party.

(v) Top leaders have unanimous power of decision making.

Ans. Money and Muscle Power

• Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections. • They tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money.

• Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.

• In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.

• Democrats all over the world are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.

Ans. Situations which display lack of internal democracy within a political party–

(i) Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly.

(ii) Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party.

(iii) They do not have the means or the connections needed to influence the decisions. As a result the leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party.

(iv) Since one or few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who disagree with the leadership find it difficult to continue in the party.

(v) More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.

Ans. Democratic reforms be carried out by political parties through:

(i) A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties.

(ii) It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members.

Ans. (i) Defection in politics means moving of a person from one party to another party for some personal benefit. It means changing party allegiance from the party on which a person got elected to a different party. (ii) It happens when a legislature, after having been elected from a particular party leaves it and joins in other party. (iii) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. Now the law says that if any MLA and MP changes parties, he or she will lose seat in the legislature. (iv) The new law has brought defection down and has made dissent even more difficult.

Ans. Efforts made by the legal organizations to reform political parties in India:

(i) To check defection, the Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties.

(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals, by making it mandatory to produce an affidavit giving details of property and criminal cases pending.

(iii) The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational election and file their income tax returns.

Ans. (i) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLA’s and MP’s from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now, if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature.

(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. The new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system to check if the information given by the candidates is true.

(iii) The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.

(iv) The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is mere formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.

Ans. Effective measures to reform political parties are:

(i) A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties.

(ii) It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members.

(iii) It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets; about one[1]third to its women candidates.

(iv) There should be a quota for women in the decision-making bodies of the party.

(v) There should be state funding of elections.

(vi) The government should give parties money to support their election expenses in kind, for example, petrol, paper, telephone, etc., or in cash.

(vii) Vote casting should be made compulsory in each election.

(viii) Data regarding caste and religion, OBC, SC, ST should not be utilized during election period in any form.