Political Parties Class X Civics Notes

 Political Parties Class X Civics Notes Social Science 

1. Why do we need political parties?

2. How many parties should we have? 

3. National Parties

4. State Parties

5. Challenges to Political Parties 

6. How can Parties be reformed? 

 1. Why do we need political parties?

#The most visible institution

 Political parties are the most visible institution in a democracy.

Even less educated citizens in remote parts of our country know something about the parties.

 #Its criticism

 Most people tend to blame political parties for all wrong in our democracy.

 They are considered as tool for social and political division .

Therefore, it is natural to ask why do we need them at all.

 Let's answer what political parties are and what they do, before we say why we need them .

Meaning of political parties 

It refers to a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

 Partisanship

 Parties are about a part of the society and thus involve partisanship.

 It means being strongly committed to party and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.

Components of political parties 

It has three components :

 a) The leaders 

b)  The active members and

c)  The followers

 Functions of political party

i) Contesting elections 

They put up candidates to fight elections. 

Different countries have different approach in choosing the candidates.

E. g:- In USA --  candidates are chosen by its members and supporters. This trend is growing in more countries.

 India -- Top party leaders choose candidate for contesting elections.

ii) Putting forward the policies and programs 

They put forward policies and programs and voters choose from them. They take a bunch of different opinions and reduce them into a few basic position .

iii) Forming and running the government 

 The parties form and run the government if they gain victory in the election. 

iv) Playing the role of opposition 

    The parties losing election play the role of opposition to the ruling parties .

Their work is to criticize the government for its failures or wrong policies which makes democracy Run smoothly

v)  Making laws

They play important role in making laws for the country.

 The MPs debate and pass the laws in the  legislature but they also belong to party.

vi) Shaping Public Opinion

     Parties shape public opinion about them. They do it by launching the movements about the problem faced by the people. 

vii)  Accessing the government schemes 

       Parties provide people access to the government welfare schemes. 

 For a common citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer. 

Necessity 

We can understand the necessity of the political parties by imagining a situation without parties. 

➡️ Without parties every candidate will be independent , the government may be formed but its unity will remain uncertain .

➡️Without parties no one will be responsible for running the whole country, rather every elected representative will be accountable for their constituency.

2. How many parties should we have?

 Any group of citizens is free to form a political party in democracy.

 More than 750 parties are registered with the election commission of India but not all these parties are serious contenders in election.

 Usually only few parties are effectively in the race to win the election and form the government .

Another question is : How many major parties are good for democracy?

 i) One Party System

 The system where only one party is allowed to control and run the government.

 Example:-  China

 Demerits

➡️ It does not allow fair chances for the other parties to come in power .

➡️ This system makes ruling party very authoritative .

ii) Two Party System

 The system in which power usually changes between two main parties is called two party system.

 Other parties may exist and win a few seats, but only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning election to form the government.

 Example :- USA, UK

iii) Multi Party System 

If more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own or in Alliance with other is called multi party system.

 Example -- India 

#Alliance 

When several parties join hands for purpose of contesting election is called an Alliance or front .

example :- 

UPA -- United progressive Alliance 

NDA --- National democratic Alliance

 Left Front

 *Demerits 

 It often appears very messy and leads to political instability .

Reason for multi party system in India

 It has large social and geographical diversities which is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties.

 #Merits

 This system allows a variety of opinions and interest to enjoy political representation .

Which is better ?

The best answer is --------------------------------

This is not a very good question .

It cannot be chosen by any country as it depends upon :

 ➡️Nature of society

➡️ System of election

 ➡️History of politics and 

➡️ Regional division 

Note-- No system is ideal for all the countries and all situations.

3. National Parties 

➡️ They are country wide parties .

➡️ These parties have their units in various states, but work according to what is decided at the National level. 

➡️ Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. 

➡️ It offers some special facilities to large and established parties like :- 

                     a)  Unique Symbol

                     b)  Recognition of EC

#Criteria 

      The EC has set up criteria of the proportion of votes and seats to be recognized as National Parties. 

Votes -- At Least 6% of total votes in Loksabha 

                   Or

                - At Least 6% votes in 4 legislative assembly 

                  AND

Seats -  At least 4 seats in the Loksabha. 

Types of National Parties 

1)  INC ( Indian National Congress) 

     ➡️ It is one of the oldest parties of the world. 

   Founded in -- 1885 AD. 

   Symbol.    ---- Hand

   Ideology  ---     a)  Secularism.    

                                b)  Economic reforms with human face. 

                                c)  Welfare of weaker sections and minorities. 

    

 2 ) BJP ( Bhartiya Janata Party )

➡️ Founded by reviving the Bhartiya Jana Sangh in 1951. 

➡️ founded in -- 1980 

Symbol -- Lotus

 Ideology ---  a) Draws inspiration from India's ancient culture and values

                      b) integral Humanism

                      c)  Antyodaya 

                     d) Full Territorial and Political integration of Jammu and Kashmir 

                    e)  Uniform Civil Code

                     f)  Bans on religious conversion 

Note -- Came to power in 1998 as the leader of NDA. 

3)  BSP ( Bahujan Samaj Party) 

     

       Founded in. ---  1984 

       Founder.  ---  Kanshi Ram 

       Symbol -- Elephant 

       Ideology -- They represent and Secure power for the Bahujan Samaj which includes dalit, adivasi ,OBC and religious minorities.

Inspiration --  Shahu Maharaj ,Ramaswami Periyar and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. 

Major Base -- UP,  MP,  Uttarakhand etc. 

4)  CPI (Communist Party of India)

  Founded in --  1925

  Symbol --  Ears of corn and sickle

Major base --  Kerala ,  Andhra Pradesh Punjab 

Ideology --  Almost same like CPIM .

5. CPIM (Communist Party of India -- Marxist )

Founded in -- 1964 after split from CPI.

Symbol --  Hammer, Sickle and Star

 Ideology -- a) Marxism -- Leninism

                      b)  Support socialism ,secularism and democracy

                      c)  Opposes imperialism and communalism 

Major base --  Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura 

Major voters -- Workers, Farmers, Agricultural labour and Intellectuals are mainly influenced by this parties

Note -- They have been in power in West Bengal for 30 years  .

6. NCP ( National Congress Party)

 Founded in --- 1999 

 Symbol --  Clock

 Ideology ----a) Democracy

                       b) Secularism 

                       c)  Social Justice 

                       d)  Wants high post of government to be confined to natural born citizen of the country .

Major Base --- Maharashtra 

7. AITC/TMC (All India Trinamool Congress) 

Founded in - 1998

Leader --- Mamata Banerjee 

Ideology   ---  Secularism and federalism

Note -- They are recognized as national parties in 2016 .

Major Base --- They are in power in West Bengal since 2011.

in Other states --  Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura 

 Symbol - Flower and grass

4. State Parties

➡️ Other than national parties many parties are classified as a state party by the election commission.

➡️ They are also known as Regional parties . they are regional in outlook but play a very vital role in national politics.

➡️ Sometimes national parties are compelled to form alliances with state parties if they did not gain majority on its own.

✔️ This made Parliament of India very diverse.

#Criteria

Votes -- Atleast 6% of votes in a state legislative assembly 

                      And

Seats --  Atleast 2 seats

E.g:- RJD, BJD, AAP, SAMAJWADI PARTY etc. 

5. *Challenges to political parties*

✴️ Lack of internal democracy.

✴️ Dynastic succession.

✴️ Role of money and muscle power.

✴️ Lack of meaningful choice.

1) *Lack of internal democracy*

➡️ Ordinary members of the party do not get sufficient information on what happens inside the party. And they do not have the means to influence the decision of party.

➡️ Power is concentrated in one or two leaders at the top.

2) *Dynastic succession*

➡️ This refers to the problem of having top post within party always controlled by members of one family. 

 _Demerits_

      So many with less experience or support of people come to occupy position of power. 

3) *Growing role of money and muscle power*

➡️ Nomination of candidate by parties depends on the capability of raising or having lots of money. 

➡️ Growing role of money forces the leader to follow the interests of big businessman.

➡️ Sometimes criminals are supported by parties to win elections. 

4) *Lack of meaningful choice*

➡️ There is a lack of ideological differences between the different government. 

➡️ It becomes difficult for people to distinguish among them. 

 *6) How can parties be reformed?* 

 # Recent efforts

a) *Anti-defection law** 

According to this law if any MLA or MP changes, he or she will lose the seat in the legislative. 

        It was made to prevent defection. 

b) *Affidavit of property and criminal cases details*

The supreme court passed an order making it compulsory for filling an affidavit. It will include the details of property and criminal cases of the candidate. 

 _Benefit_

 It has made a lot of information public to people. It will help them to take a balanced decision. 

c) *Internal democracy*

Election commission made it necessary for parties to hold their organised elections and file their income tax returns.

# Suggestion (legal )

 _i) Internal election_ 

It should be made compulsory for political parties to:

a. Maintain register of its members.

b. To follow its own constitution. 

c. To hold open election to the highest post.

ii) Reserved seat for women

It should be made for the political parties to provide at least one-third  ticket to women candidate.

 Why?:-(To ensure fair representation)

 _iii) State funding of election_ 

The government should provide money to parties to support their election expenses. The support could be like:- petrol, paper, telephone, etc.

 *

# Non-legal suggestion*

 _i) Put pressure_

Through petitions, publicity and agitation ordinary citizens, pressure groups, movements and media can put huge amount of pressure. 

 _ii) Be a part of politics_

It can't be reformed unless those wishing to change join it. 

It is easy to criticise it from outside but the best way to change it is to become a part of it.

    

 

~ Seminary Classes