CBSE 10 Chapter 4 Political Parties Questions and Answers

Political Parties Questions and Answers

Table of Contents

1. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.

Ans: Political parties fill political offices and exercise political power. Parties do so by performing a series of functions:

Parties contest elections. In most democracies, political parties select their candidates in different ways to fight an election. In some countries, such as the USA, members and supporters of a party choose their candidates. Now more and more countries are following this method. In other countries like India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
Parties put forward different policies and programmes. The voters have to choose from them on the basis of their opinions and views on policies. But government can’t handle such a large variety of views. In a democracy, political parties collect a large number of opinions to direct the government to formulate policies. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions. A government is expected to base policies on the line of the ruling party.
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.
Parties form and run governments. As we noted last year, the big policy decisions are taken by a political executive that comes from the political parties. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising the government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.
Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are extensions of political parties among different sections of society. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in society crystallise on the lines parties take.
Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen, it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.

2. What are the various challenges faced by political parties?

Ans: the various challenges faced by political parties are as follow :-

The first challenge is lack of internal democracy within parties. All over the world, there is a tendency in political parties towards the concentration of power in one or a few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party. As a result, the leaders use greater power to make decisions in the name of the party. 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. More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.

The second challenge of dynastic succession is related to the first one. Since 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. Those leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party. This is also bad for democracy since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power. This tendency is present in some measure all over the world, including in some of the older democracies.

The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections. Since parties are focused only on winning elections, they tend to use short-cuts 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 an 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.

The fourth challenge is that parties do not offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In recent years, there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties in some parts of the world. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented. In our country, the differences among all the major parties on economic policies have also reduced. Those who want different policies have no option available to them. Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders either, because the same set of leaders keeps shifting from one party to another.

3. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?

Ans: Let us look at some of the recent efforts and suggestions in our country to reform political parties and their leaders:

. 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. As yet we do not know if it has led to a decline in the influence of the rich and the criminals.
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. Besides these, many suggestions are often made to reform political parties:

It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. Similarly, there should be a quota for women in the party’s decision-making bodies.

➜ Political Parties Notes

4. What is a political party?

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 society to promote the collective good. Parties try to persuade people why their policies are better than others. They seek to implement these policies by winning popular support through elections.

Parties are a part of society and involve in partisanship. Thus, a party is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interests it upholds. A political party has three components:

The leaders,
The active members and
The followers

5. What are the characteristics of a political party?

Ans: A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

The characteristics of a political parties are :-

A political party should be organised body. It is registerered by Election Commission.
Political parties should be visible institutions in a democracy.
A political party has three components the leaders, the active members and the followers.
Political parties should take care their voters.

6. A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a _____________________.

Ans: political party

7. Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

	List I	List II
1.	Congress Party	A. National Democratic Alliance
2.	Bharatiya Janata Party	B. State party
3.	Communist Party of India (Marxist)	C. United Progressive Alliance
4.	Telugu Desam Party	D. Left Front

	1	2	3	4
(a)	C	A	B	D
(b)	C	D	A	B
(c)	C	A	D	B
(d)	D	C	A	B

Ans:

8. Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?

(a) Kanshi Ram

(b) Sahu Maharaj

(d) Jotiba Phule

Ans: (a) Kanshi Ram

9. What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party?

(a) Bahujan Samaj

(b) Revolutionary democracy

(d) Modernity

Ans: (c) Integral humanism

10. Consider the following statements on parties.

(a) Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people.

(b) Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.

(c) Parties are not necessary to run governments.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) B and c
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) A and C

Ans: (b) A and B

11.Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:

Muhammad Yunus is a famous economist of Bangladesh. He received several international honours for his efforts to promote economic and social development for the benefit of the poor. He and the Grameen Bank that he started jointly, received the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2006. In February 2007, he decided to launch a political party and contest in the parliamentary elections. His objective was to foster proper leadership, good governance and build a new Bangladesh. He felt that only a political party different from the traditional ones would bring about new political culture. His party would be democratic from the grassroots level.

The launching of the new party, called Nagarik Shakti (Citizens’ Power), has caused a stir among the Bangladeshis. While many welcomed his decision, some did not like it. “Now I think Bangladesh will have a chance to choose between good and bad and eventually have a good government,” said Shahedul Islam, a government official. “That government, we hope, would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting corruption and black money a top priority.”

But leaders of traditional political parties who dominated the country’s politics for decades were apprehensive. “There was no debate (over him) winning the Nobel, but politics is different – very challenging and often controversial,” said a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Some others were highly critical. They asked why he was rushing into politics. “Is he being planted in politics by mentors from outside the country,” asked one political observer.

Do you think Yunus made a right decision to float a new political party?

Ans: Yunus made a right decision to float a new political party because the citizen has a right to form a political party or join a political party of his own choice in a democracy. Yunus is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and he is a famous economist of Bangladesh as well as he is well-known people all over the world. He has his own political ideas like fostering proper leadership, and good governance. He has already set up the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. People may support him.

Do you agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people?

Ans: I do not agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people because Yunus has successfully established Grameen Bank for the welfare of the people.

How do you want this new party organised to make it different from other parties?

Ans: The new party should be organised on democratic lines. Organisational elections should be held regularly. There should be transparency in the working of the party. Party should work for society including women and minorities equally.

If you were the one to begin this political party, how would you defend it?

Ans: Write in your own words.

➜ Political Parties Notes

Additional question and answer

Multiple choice Questions and Answers

1. Democracy is equal to ________ for ordinary citizens.

(a) Political parties
(b) Parties
(c) People
(d) Voters

Ans: (a) Political parties

2. Who holds the power in the government?

(a) Political parties
(b) Citizen
(c) Ordinary people
(d) Society

Ans: (a) Political parties

3. Political parties are a part of ________.

(a) Society
(b) Economy
(c) Citizen
(d) Voter

Ans: (a) Society

4. How many components are in political parties?

(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Two

Ans: (a) Three

5. Who recruits leaders in the government?

(a) Political parties
(b) Citizen
(c) Ordinary people
(d) Society

Ans: (a) Political parties

6. Who did play opposition in government?

(a) The political party that wins the election
(b) Citizens who cast a vote
(c) The political party that loses the election
(d) Political parties who participated in the election

Ans: (c) Political parties who lose the election

➜ Political Parties Notes

7. Example of a one-party system is

(a) China
(b) USA
(c) India

Ans: (a) China

8. An example of two-system is

(a) China
(b) USA
(c) India

Ans: (b) USA

9. Example of a multiparty system is

(a) China
(b) USA
(c) India

Ans: (c) India

10. When did the three major alliances in parliament elections formed in India?

(a) 2000
(b) 1999
(c) 2003
(d) 2004

Ans: (d) 2004

11. Every party in the country has to register with the ___________.

(a) Election Commission
(b) Elected Commission
(c) Elect Commission
(d) Election Commission

Ans: (d) Election Commission

12. How many national parties did recognised in India in 2019?

(a) 7
(b) 6
(c) 8
(d) 5

Ans: (a) 7

13. What is the full form of AITC?

(a) All Indian Trinamol Congress
(b) All India Trinamul Congress
(c) All India Trinamool Congress
(d) All Indian Trinamal Congress

Ans: (c) All India Trinamool Congress

14. When did AITC launch?

(a) 1 January 1998
(b) 1 January 2016
(c) 1 January 2011
(d) 1 January 2019

Ans: (a) 1 January 1998

15. When did the All India Trinamool Congress recognise as a national party?

(a) 1998
(b) 2016
(c) 2011
(d) 2019

Ans: (b) 2016

➜ Political Parties Notes

16. Who was the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha in 2019?

(a) All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
(b) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
(c) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
(d) Communist Party of India (CPI)

Ans: (a) All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

17. What is the full form of BSP?

(a) Bahujan Samaj Parties (BSP)
(b) Bahuj Samaj Party (BSP)
(c) Bujan Samaj Parties (BSP)
(d) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

Ans: (d) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

18. When did BSP form and under whom leadership?

(a) 1998, kashi Ram
(b) 1984, Kanshi Ram
(c) 1980, Ram Prasad
(d) 1925, Ram Kashi

Ans: (b) 1984, Kanshi Ram

19. Which party hold 10 seats in Lok Sabha in 2019?

(a) All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
(b) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
(c) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
(d) Communist Party of India (CPI)

Ans: (b) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

20. When did Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed?

(a) 1951
(b) 1980
(c) 1990
(d) 1998

Ans: (a) 1951

21. Who did formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?

(a) Mamta Banerjee
(b) Syama Prasad Mukherjee
(c) Kanshi Ram
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru

Ans: (b) Syama Prasad Mukherjee

22. What is the full form of CPI?

(a) Commun Party of India
(b) Common Parties of India
(c) Comunist Party of Indian
(d) Communist Party of India

Ans: (d) Communist Party of India

23. When did the Communist Party of India form?

(a) 1964
(b) 1998
(c) 1925
(d) 1951

Ans: (c) 1925

24. When did CPI split in CPI(M)?

(a) 1964
(b) 1998
(c) 1925
(d) 1951

Ans: (a) 1964

➜ Political Parties Notes

25. What is the full form of CPI(M)?

(a) Commun Party of India – Marxist
(b) Common Parties of India – Marxist
(c) Comunist Party of Indian – Marxist
(d) Communist Party of India – Marxist

Ans: (d) Communist Party of India – Marxist

26. Who was in power in West Bengal without a break for 34 years?

(a) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
(b) Communist Party of India (CPI)
(c) Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
(d) Indian National Congress (INC)

Ans: (c) Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)

27. Who was known as Congress Party?

(a) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
(b) Communist Party of India (CPI)
(c) Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
(d) Indian National Congress (INC)

Ans: (d) Indian National Congress (INC)

28. What was the full form of INC?

(a) Indian National Congress
(b) India Nation Congress
(c) Indian Nation Congress
(d) Indian National Cong

Ans: (a) Indian National Congress

29. When did Indian National Congress founded?

(a) 1998
(b) 1885
(c) 1865
(d) 1925

Ans: (b) 1885

30. Under which leader party sought to build a modern secular democratic republic in India?

(a) Mamta Banerjee
(b) Syama Prasad Mukherjee
(c) Kanshi Ram
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru

Ans: (d) Jawaharlal Nehru

31. What was the full form of UPA?

(a) United Progressive Alliance
(b) Unit Progress Alliance
(c) United Progress Alliance
(d) Unite Progressive All

Ans: (a) United Progressive Alliance

32. What was the full form of NCP?

(a) National Congress Parties
(b) Nationalist Congress Party
(c) Nation Congre Party
(d) Nation Congress Party

Ans: (b) Nationalist Congress Party

➜ Political Parties Notes

33. When did National Congress Party formed?

(a) 1998
(b) 1925
(c) 1968
(d) 1999

Ans: (d) 1999

34. Who classified the major parties in State Parties?

(a) Election Commision
(b) Elected Commision
(c) Elect Comision
(d) Election Commission

Ans: (d) Election Commission

35. The Constitution was amended to prevent elected _____ and ______ from changing parties.

(a) MLAs, MPs
(b) MLA, Citizen
(c) MP, Voter

Ans: (a) MLAs, MPs

➜ Political Parties Notes

Short answer type questions

36. What is a political party?

36. How many components are there in a political party?

Ans: A political party has three components:

the leaders,
the active members and
the followers

37. “Parties contest elections.” Elaborate

Ans: In most democracies, political parties select their candidates in different ways to fight an election. In some countries, such as the USA, members and supporters of a party choose their candidates. Now more and more countries are following this method. In other countries like India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.

38. How laws are made in a democracy?

Ans: 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.

39. Who is the opposition?

Ans: Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising the government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.

40. How did parties shape public opinion?

Ans: Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are extensions of political parties among different sections of society. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in society crystallise on the lines parties take.

41. Why do parties have to be responsible for people?

Ans: Parties have to be responsive to people’s needs and demands. Otherwise, people can reject those parties in the next elections.

42. Why do we need political parties?

Ans: we need political parties because they perform all these functions. Every candidate in the elections will be independent. But 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 ever uncertain. 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 be run.

43. What did societies want in democracy?

Ans: Large societies need representative democracy. They need agency to gather different views on various issues and to present these to the government. They needed some ways to bring various representatives together so that a responsible government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to make policies, justify or oppose, and support or restrain the government. Political parties are a necessary condition for democracy.

44. Why are people free to form political parties as much as they want in a democracy?

Ans: In a democracy, any group of citizens is free to form a political party. In this formal sense, there are a large number of political parties in each country. More than 750 parties are registered with the Election Commission of India. But not all these parties are serious contenders in the elections. Usually, only a handful of parties win the race elections and form the government.

45. What is a one-party system?

Ans: In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-party systems. Just like China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.

46. What is a two-party system?

Ans: In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. The main two parties have a chance of winning a majority of seats to form a government. Such a party system is called a two-party system. The United States of America and the United Kingdom are examples of a two-party system.

47. What is a multiparty system?

Ans: If several parties compete for power, but more than two parties have a chance of coming to power either on their own strength or with the alliance, we call it a multiparty system. India is an example of a multiparty system.

48. What is an alliance?

Ans: In a multiparty system, the government is formed by various parties coming together in a coalition. When several parties join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power in a multiparty system, it is called an alliance or a front.

➜ Political Parties Notes

49. How many alliances are in India in 2004?

Ans: In India, there were three such major alliances in the 2004 parliamentary elections– the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front.

50. What is the federal system in democracy?

Ans: Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties: one party is present in only one of the federal units and other parties are present in several or all units of the federation. This is the case in India as well.

51. What are national parties?

Ans: There are some country-wide parties, which are called ‘national parties’. These parties have their units in various states. But all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategies that are decided at the national level.

52. How many national parties were recognised in India in 2019?

Ans: According to this classification, there were seven recognised national parties in the country in 2019.

Their names are: –

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Communist Party of India (CPI)
Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
Indian National Congress (INC)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

53. Where did All India Trinamool Congress present rather than west Bengal in 2019?

Ans: AITC has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. In the General Elections held in 2019, it got 4.07 per cent votes and won 22 seats, making it the fourth-largest party in the Lok Sabha.

54. Which party believes in Marxism-Leninism?

Ans: Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist are those part who believe in Marxism-Leninsm.

➜ Political Parties Notes

55. Where did the Communist Party of India significantly present?

Ans: CPI Significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Its support base had gradually declined over the years. It secured less than 1 per cent votes and 2 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Advocates the coming together of all left parties to build a strong left front.

56. What happens after 1989 to the INC?

Ans: After 1989, its support declined, but it continues to be present throughout the country, cutting across social divisions. A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party espouses secularism and the welfare of weaker sections and minorities. The INC supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2019. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it won 19.5% votes and 52 seats.

57. What do you mean by state parties?

Ans: Other than these seven parties, most of the major parties of the country are classified by the Election Commission as ‘State parties’. These are commonly referred to as regional parties. Yet these parties need not be regional in their ideology or outlook.

58. Why did political parties face challenges?

Ans: Since parties are the most visible face of democracy, it is natural that people blame parties for whatever is wrong with the working of democracy.

All over the world, people express strong dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties to perform their functions well. This is the case in our country too.

Popular dissatisfaction and criticism have focussed on four problem areas in the working of political parties. Political parties need to face and overcome from challenges in order to remain effective instruments of democracy.

59. What are the challenges political parties face?

Ans: There are four challenges which political parties face:-

The first challenge is lack of internal democracy within parties.
The second challenge of dynastic succession is related to the first one.
The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections.
The fourth challenge is that parties do not offer a meaningful choice to the voters.

➜ Political Parties Notes

60. Why Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties?

Ans: The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives indulged in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. This new law has helped bring defection down. At the same time, this has made any dissent even more difficult. MPs and MLAs have to accept whatever the party leaders decide.

61. How should government help the political parties during an election?

Ans: There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses. This support could be given in kind: petrol, paper, telephone, etc. Or it could be given in cash based on the votes secured by the party in the last election.

➜ Political Parties Notes

Long answer type questions

62. What is the function of political parties? Explain.

Ans: Political parties fill political offices and exercise political power. Parties do so by performing a series of functions:

Parties contest elections. In most democracies, political parties select their candidates in different ways to fight an election. In some countries, such as the USA, members and supporters of a party choose their candidates. Now more and more countries are following this method. In other countries like India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
Parties put forward different policies and programmes. The voters have to choose from them on the basis of their opinions and views on policies. But government can’t handle such a large variety of views. In a democracy, political parties collect a large number of opinions to direct the government to formulate policies. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions. A government is expected to base policies on the line of the ruling party.
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.
Parties form and run governments. As we noted last year, the big policy decisions are taken by a political executive that comes from the political parties. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising the government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.
Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are extensions of political parties among different sections of society. Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in society crystallise on the lines parties take.
Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen, it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.

63. Explain the multiparty system.

In a multiparty system, the government is formed by various parties coming together in a coalition. When several parties join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power in a multiparty system, it is called an alliance or a front. For example, in India, there were three such major alliances in the 2004 parliamentary elections– the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front.

The multiparty system often appears very messy and leads to political instability. At the same time, this system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.

64. “A party system can be chosen by any country.” Explain.

Ans: No, A party system is not something any country can choose. It evolves over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and its system of elections. These cannot be changed very quickly.

Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances. For example, if India has evolved a multiparty system. The social and geographical diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties. No system is ideal for all countries and all situations.

65. Why did political parties face a crisis?

Ans: Political parties are facing a crisis because they are very unpopular and the citizens are indifferent to political parties. The available evidence is only partly true for India. The evidence, based on a series of large sample surveys conducted over several decades, shows that:

Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people in South Asia. The proportion of those who say their trust in political parties is ‘not much’ or ‘not at all’ is more than those who have ‘some’ or ‘great’ trust.
The same is true of most other democracies as well. Political parties are one of the least trusted institutions all over the world.
Yet the level of participation in the activities of political parties was fairly high. The proportion of those who said they were members of some political party was higher in India than in many advanced countries like Canada, Japan, Spain and South Korea.
Over the last three decades, the proportion of those who report to be members of political parties in India has gone up steadily.
The proportion of those who say they feel ‘close to a political party’ has also gone up in India in this period.

➜ Political Parties Notes

66. What is the process of being recognised by political parties?

Ans: Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. While the Commission treats all parties equally, it offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol – only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol.

Parties get this privilege and some other special facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’.

The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria for the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised party. 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 recognised as a State party.

A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

67. Explain All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

Ans: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) was Launched on 1 January 1998 under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Recognised as a national party in 2016. The party’s symbol is flowers and grass. Committed to secularism and federalism. Has been in power in West Bengal since 2011. Also has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. In the General Elections held in 2019, it got 4.07 per cent votes and won 22 seats, making it the fourth-largest party in the Lok Sabha.

68. Explain Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Ans: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. Seeks to represent and secure power for the Bahujan samaj which includes the Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities. Draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the Dalits and oppressed people. It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and a substantial presence in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab. Formed government in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking the support of different parties at different times. In the Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, it polled about 3.63 per cent of votes and secured 10 seats in the Lok Sabha.

➜ Political Parties Notes

69. Which party was formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee? Explain.

Ans: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. Wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values; and Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics. Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion, and a ban on religious conversions. Its support base increased substantially in the 1990s. Earlier limited to north and west and to urban areas, the party expanded its support in the south, east, the northeast and to rural areas. Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) including several regional parties. Emerged as the largest party with 303 members in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Currently leads the ruling NDA government at the Centre.

70. What is the Communist Party of India? Explain.

Ans: Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1925. Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy. Opposed to the forces of secessionism and communalism. Accepts parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the interests of the working class, farmers and the poor. Became weak after the split in the party in 1964 which led to the formation of the CPI(M). Significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Its support base had gradually declined over the years. It secured less than 1 per cent votes and 2 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Advocates the coming together of all left parties to build a strong left front.

71. Which party was founded under Jawaharlal Nehru? Explain.

Which party was the oldest party in the world?

Which party sought to build a modern secular democratic republic in India? Explain.

Ans: Indian National Congress (INC) is also known as the Congress Party. One of the oldest parties in the world. Founded in 1885 and has experienced many splits. Played a dominant role in Indian politics at the national and state level for several decades after India’s Independence. Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the party sought to build a modern secular democratic republic in India. The ruling party at the centre till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined, but it continues to be present throughout the country, cutting across social divisions. A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party espouses secularism and the welfare of weaker sections and minorities. The INC supports new economic reforms but with a human face. Leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2019. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it won 19.5% votes and 52 seats.

72. Which party was split from Indian National Congress? Explain.

Ans: Nationalist Congress Party was formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress party. Espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism. Wants that high offices in government be confined to natural-born citizens of the country. A major party in Maharashtra and has a significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam. A coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress. Since 2004, a member of the United Progressive Alliance. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it won 1.4% of the votes and 5 seats.

73. Explain the State Parties.

Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states. Parties like the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national-level political organisations with units in several states. Some of these parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front, Mizo National Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi are conscious about their State identity.

Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties has expanded. This made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse. The national party is not able to secure on its own a majority in the Lok Sabha, until 2014.

As a result, the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State 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 in our country.

74. What are the challenges political parties face? Elaborate.

Ans: Popular dissatisfaction and criticism have focussed on four problem areas in the working of political parties. Political parties need to face and overcome these challenges in order to remain effective instruments of democracy.

➜ Political Parties Notes

The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections. 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 an 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.

75. Why did political parties face a lack of internal democracy within parties?

Ans: The first challenge is lack of internal democracy within parties. All over the world, there is a tendency in political parties towards the concentration of power in one or a few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings, and do not conduct internal elections regularly. Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party. As a result, the leaders use greater power to make decisions in the name of the party. 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. More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes more important.

76. Why did parties need to be success in internal democracy?

Ans: The secondchallenge of dynastic succession is related to the first one. Since 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 of a party. Those leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party. This is also bad for democracy since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power. This tendency is present in some measure all over the world, including in some of the older democracies.

77. Why do parties need money and muscle power in elections?

Why does the role of rich people and big companies increase in elections?

What was the shortcut to winning the election?

Ans: The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections. 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 an 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.

➜ Political Parties Notes

78. How can parties be reformed?

Let us look at some of the recent efforts and suggestions in our country to reform political parties and their leaders:

The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives indulged in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now the law says that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. This new law has helped bring defection down. At the same time, this has made any dissent even more difficult. MPs and MLAs have to accept whatever the party leaders decide.
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. As yet we do not know if it has led to a decline in the influence of the rich and the criminals.

79. What was the rule for candidates of political parties for election?

Ans: the rule for candidates of political parties for election:-

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 Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.
A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow their constitution, to have an independent authority, to act as a judge in case of party disputes, and to hold open elections to the highest posts.

80. What are the other ways in which political parties are reformed?

Ans: There are two other ways in which political parties can be reformed.

One, people can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups and movements and the media can play an important role. If political parties feel that they would lose public support by not taking up reforms, they would become more serious about reforms.

Two, political parties can improve if those who want this can join political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation. It is difficult to reform politics if ordinary citizens do not take part in it and simply criticise it from the outside. The problem of bad politics can be solved by more and better politics.

➜ Political Parties Notes

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