Political Parties ( ch-6)
Class -10th
Q1. 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
the society with a view to promote the collective good.
Q2.
Name the three components of political
party.
Ans.
A political party has three components:
1. The leaders
2. The active members and
3. The followers
Q3. What does a political party
do?
OR
What are the functions of political parties?
OR
Why do we need political parties?
OR
State any 5 important functions of a political
party ?
Ans. 1. Political
Parties contest elections. In most democracies, elections are
fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties. In India, top
party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
2. Parties put forward
different policies and programs 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.
3. 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.
4. Parties form
and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them
ministers to run the government in the way they want.
5. Those parties that
lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the
ruling parties, by voicing different views and criticising government for its
failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the
government.
6. Parties shape
public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties sometimes also
launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people.
7. Parties provide
people access to government machinery and welfare schemesimplemented
by governments. For an ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party
leader than a government officer.
Q4. Why modern democracies cannot exist without
political parties?
2. The government may
be formed, but its utility will remain ever uncertain.
3. 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.
4. The rise of
political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative
democracies. As societies became large and complex, they also needed
some agency to gather different views on various issues and to present
these to the government.
5. They needed
Political party to bring various representatives together so that a responsible
government could be formed. They needed a mechanism to support or
restrain the government, make policies, justify or oppose them.
Q5.
Describe the various party systems existing in different countries .
Ans. Party System
1. Single Party System
In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the
government. These are called one-party systems.
We cannot consider one-party system as a good option because this is not
a democratic option.
In China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.
Eg:- USA and UK
2. The multi party system often appears very messy and leads to
political instability.
3. At the same time, this system allows a variety of interests and
opinions to enjoy political representation.
Ex:- India
Q6. How many parties should
we have in a democracy? OR How many major or effective parties are good for a
democracy?
2. Each country
develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
3. For example, if
India has evolved a multi-party system, it is because the social and geographical
diversity in such a large country is not easily absorbed by two or even three
parties.
4. No system is ideal for all countries
and all situations.
Q7. Write a short note on the following :-
A person, who is strongly
committed to a political party
2. Partisanship (
Follower)
Partisanship is
marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an
issue.
3. National Parties
These parties have their units in
various states. But by and large , all these units follow the same policies ,
programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.
4. State Parties
5. 1. Indian National
Congress(INC)
a. Congress Party is
one of the oldest parties of the world. It was founded in 1885 and has
experienced many splits.
b. Under the
leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the party sought to build a modern secular
democratic republic in India.
c. Ruling party at the
centre from 1947 to 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.
d. A centrist party
(neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party
espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities.
e. Currently leads the
ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition government at the Centre.
2. Bharatiya Janata
Party(BJP)
a. It was founded in
1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
b. It wants to build a
strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and
values. Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element in its conception
of Indian nationhood and politics.
c. It 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 ban on religious conversions.
d. Earlier its
popularity was limited to north and west and to urban areas but the party
expanded its support in the south, east and north-east and to rural areas.
e. Came to power in
1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance including several state
and regional parties.
3. Bahujan Samaj Party( BSP)
a. It was formed in
1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.It seeks to represent and secure power
for the bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis,
OBCs and religious minorities.
b. It draws
inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule,
Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
c. It stands for the
cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and
oppressed people.
d. 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.
e. It formed
government in Uttar Pradesh several times by taking the support of different
parties at different times.
f. In the Lok Sabha
elections held in 2004, it polled about 5 per cent votes and secured 19 seats
in the Lok Sabha.
4. Communist Party of
India - Marxist (CPI-M):
a. It was founded in
1964. It believes in Marxism- Leninism.
b. It supports
socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism.
c. It accepts
democratic elections as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective
of socioeconomic justice in India.
d. It enjoys strong
support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory
workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia.
e. Has been in power
in West Bengal without a break for 30 years. In 2004 elections, it won about 6
per cent of votes and 43 seats in the Lok Sabha.
a. It was formed in
1925. It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy.
b. It opposes to the
forces of secessionism and communalism.
c. It accepts
parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the interests of the working
class, farmers and the poor.
d. It became weak
after the split in the party in 1964. Significant presence in the states of
Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
e. Its support base
had gradually declined over the years. It secured about 1.4 per cent votes and
10 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
6. Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP):
a. It was formed in
1999 following a split in the Congress party.
b. It espouses
democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism.
c. It wants that high
offices in government be confined to natural born citizens of the country.
d. A major party in
Maharashtra and has a significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam.
e. A coalition partner
in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress. Since 2004, a member
of the United Progressive Alliance.
State political parties
1. Regional parties
need not be regional in their ideology or outlook. Some of these parties are
all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in some states.
2. Parties like the
Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level
political organisation with units in several states.
3. Some of these
parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front and Mizo National Front
are conscious about their State identity.
4. 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.
5. No one national
party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha. As a result, the
national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties from1996 .
Q8. Explain the various challanges faced by the political parties ?
Ans. 1. 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 few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership
registers, do not hold organizational meetings, and do not conduct internal
elections regularly.
2. The second
challenge is dynastic succession. 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.
3. The third challenge
is about the growing role of money and muscle power in
parties, especially during elections. They tend to nominate rich candidates and
in some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.
4. The fourth
challenge is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful
choiceto the voters. In recent years there has been a decline in the
ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.
5. Since political parties
are the most visible face of democracy, it is natural that people blame parties
for whatever is wrong with the working of democracy. Popular dissatisfaction
and criticism has focused on four problem areas in the working of political
parties.
Q9. How can
political parties be reformed?
Or
State few
efforts which were made to reform its political parties and its leaders?
Ans. 1. The Constitution
was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. Because some
elected representatives indulge in DEFECTION in order 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.
2.
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 AFFIDAVITgiving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.
3. The Election Commission
passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their
organizational elections and file their income tax returns.
Q10. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform
their functions.
Or
What are the suggestions often made to reform political parties ?
Ans. Some
suggestions made to reform political parties and its leaders:
1. 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, follow
its own constitution and hold open elections to the highest posts.
2. It should be made
mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about
one-third, to women candidates.
3. There should be
state funding of elections. The government should give parties money, petrol,
paper, telephone etc. to support their election expenses.
4. There are two other
ways in which political parties can be reformed.
A) 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 in this.
5. B) Political
parties can improve if many 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 criticize it
from the outside.
Q11. What are recognised political
parties ?
Ans. Election Commission offers some special facilities to large and
established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol, privileges and
some other special facilities. That is why these parties are called,
‘recognised political parties’.
Q12. Differentiate between
National Party and State Party .
Ans. 1. National parties have
influence all over the country or in several states of India.
The influence of a state party is
limited to a state or a regions.
2. National parties take interest in
national as well as international issues, whereas regional or state parties are
interested in promoting regional /state interest only.
3. The national parties have to
harmonise the national as well as state
interest whereas state parties
usually stand for greater autonomy for states.
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