Chapter 4: Political Parties

Answer:
This chapter explains the meaning, role and importance of political parties in a democracy. It discusses why political parties are necessary, the functions they perform, different party systems, national and state parties in India, public participation in parties, challenges faced by political parties, and reforms needed to make parties more democratic and accountable.

Answer:
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 and try to win popular support to implement them. A political party usually has three components: leaders, active members and followers.

Answer:
Political parties are necessary because modern democracies are representative democracies. Large societies need an agency to collect different opinions, present them before the people, form governments, make policies and provide accountability. Without parties, every candidate would be independent. No one would be able to promise major policy changes, and no one would be responsible for how the country is run. Therefore, political parties are a necessary condition for democracy.

Answer:
Every political party in India has to register with the Election Commission. Recognised parties get special facilities such as a reserved election symbol. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in a State Legislative Assembly election and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party. A party that secures at least six per cent of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four Lok Sabha seats is recognised as a national party.

Answer:
State parties are parties recognised by the Election Commission mainly on the basis of their performance in a state. They are commonly called regional parties, but they need not always be regional in ideology. Some State parties have national-level organisation but succeed mainly in specific states. Their rise has made Indian politics more diverse and strengthened federalism because national parties often form alliances with them.

Answer:

Suggested Answer:
Photographs of election rallies show parties contesting elections and mobilising voters. Pictures of protests show parties shaping public opinion and acting as opposition. Images of ministers distributing welfare benefits show parties providing access to government schemes. News reports on Parliament debates show parties making laws and influencing policy.

Suggested Answer:
Note: State politics changes over time, so students should verify current examples from recent elections.

Answer:
People criticise political parties because parties are often associated with corruption, scandals, dynastic politics, money power and poor performance. Yet people participate in party activities because political parties are the main link between citizens and government. Parties help people raise issues, access welfare schemes, influence policies and take part in elections.

Suggested Answer:
Cartoons in this chapter highlight challenges such as concentration of power in a few leaders, influence of money and corporate power, lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, criminalisation of politics and weak ideological differences between major parties. Such cartoons use humour to criticise serious democratic problems.

Answer:
Political parties perform several important functions in a democracy:

1. They contest elections by selecting candidates.
2. They put forward different policies and programmes before voters.
3. They play a decisive role in making laws.
4. They form and run governments after winning elections.
5. Parties that lose elections act as the opposition and criticise the government.
6. They shape public opinion by raising issues and launching movements.
7. They provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.

Answer:
Political parties face four major challenges:

1. Lack of internal democracy: Power is concentrated in a few leaders. Parties often do not hold regular internal elections or maintain proper membership records.

2. Dynastic succession: In many parties, top positions are controlled by members of one family. This discourages ordinary workers and weakens democracy.

3. Money and muscle power: Parties often choose candidates who have money or criminal influence because they can help win elections.

4. Lack of meaningful choice: Ideological differences among parties have reduced, so voters often do not get clear alternative policies.

Answer:
Political parties can be strengthened through the following reforms:

1. A law should regulate internal affairs of political parties.
2. Parties should maintain membership registers and follow their own constitutions.
3. Internal elections should be held regularly and transparently.
4. Parties should give at least one-third of tickets and decision-making positions to women.
5. State funding of elections should be introduced to reduce money power.
6. Candidates should disclose assets and criminal cases through affidavits.
7. Citizens, media, pressure groups and movements should put pressure on parties to reform.
8. Ordinary citizens should join parties and improve politics from within.

Answer:
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. Members of a party agree on certain policies and programmes for society. They seek popular support through elections and try to implement their policies after coming to power.

Answer:
The main characteristics of a political party are:

1. It is a group of people with common political ideas.
2. It contests elections to gain power.
3. It has policies and programmes for society.
4. It tries to persuade voters that its policies are better than others.
5. It reflects a part of society and involves partisanship.
6. It has three components: leaders, active members and followers.

Answer: Political party

Answer: (c) C A D B

Answer: A. Kanshi Ram

Explanation: The Bahujan Samaj Party was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.

Answer: C. Integral humanism

Explanation: The BJP draws inspiration from Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya.

Answer: (b) A and B

Explanation: Political parties often do not enjoy high public trust and may be involved in scandals. But parties are necessary for running representative democracies, so statement C is incorrect.

Suggested Answer:
Muhammad Yunus’s decision can be considered right if his aim was to bring clean leadership, good governance and a new political culture. In a democracy, citizens have the right to form political parties and offer voters a meaningful alternative.

The fears of traditional politicians are understandable because politics is challenging and controversial. However, a new party should not be rejected only because it is new. To make it different, it should be democratic from the grassroots level, hold internal elections, maintain transparent accounts, avoid money and muscle power, give representation to women and weaker sections, and select candidates with clean records. It should also have clear policies and remain accountable to members and voters.

Answer:
Partisanship means strong commitment to a party, group or faction. A partisan person tends to take one side and may find it difficult to take a balanced view. Political parties involve partisanship because they represent particular policies, programmes and social interests.

Answer:
A coalition government is a government formed by two or more political parties when no single party gets a clear majority. Parties agree to work together and share power. Coalition governments are common in multiparty systems like India.

Answer:
Defection means changing party allegiance after being elected on the ticket of one party. Many MLAs and MPs earlier changed parties to become ministers or get rewards. To control this, the Constitution was amended. Now, an MLA or MP who changes party can lose the seat in the legislature. This reduced defection, but it also made dissent within parties more difficult.

Sample Manifesto:

Party Name: Student Progress Party

Our promises:
1. Improve cleanliness in classrooms and corridors.
2. Create a student suggestion box.
3. Organise sports, debate and cultural activities regularly.
4. Promote anti-bullying rules and peer support.
5. Help students access library books and digital resources.
6. Encourage equal participation of girls and boys in all activities.
7. Hold monthly meetings with class representatives.

Suggested Answer:
Legal reforms are important, but they are not enough. Over-regulation may make parties find ways to avoid the law. Real reform also requires public pressure, media scrutiny, active citizens, internal democracy and participation of honest people in politics. Political parties can improve when voters reward good politics and reject corruption, dynastic politics and money power.