Political Parties

In-text Questions

Q1. So, you agree with me. Parties are partial, partisan and lead to partitions. Parties do nothing but divide people. That is their real function!

Answer:

This is a one-sided and negative view of political parties. While it is true that parties are partisan—they take a side and represent a part of society—this is not their only function. Parties are essential for democracy because they contest elections, put forward policies and programmes, make laws, form and run governments, play the role of opposition, shape public opinion and provide people access to government machinery. Parties do reflect social and political divisions, but they also help to negotiate and reconcile these divisions in a democratic framework. Without parties, democracy would be difficult to run.

Q2. Okay, granted that we can't live without political parties. But tell me on what grounds do people support a political party?

Answer:

People support a political party on various grounds:

• Policies and programmes: People support a party whose policies and programmes appeal to them and seem beneficial for society.
• Ideology: A party's ideology—such as secularism, socialism, cultural nationalism or centrism—attracts supporters who share those beliefs.
• Leadership: Charismatic and trusted leaders often draw people to a party.
• Social base: People may support a party that represents the interests of their caste, community, region or economic class.
• Past performance: Parties that have delivered good governance and development may retain or gain support.
• Party identity and loyalty: Many people have a strong emotional attachment to a particular party, often passed down through generations.
• Local presence and accessibility: Parties with strong grassroots presence and local leaders are more accessible to ordinary citizens.

Q3. I wonder how politicians manage these coalitions. I can't even remember the names of all the parties.

Answer:

Managing coalitions is indeed a challenging task in a multiparty system like India. Politicians manage coalitions through:

• Common minimum programme: Coalition partners agree on a common agenda that all parties can support.
• Sharing of power: Important ministerial portfolios and positions are distributed among coalition partners.
• Consultation and negotiation: Regular consultations and negotiations are held to resolve differences and keep the alliance together.
• Respecting regional aspirations: Regional parties are given space to pursue their regional interests within the national framework.
• Leadership and coordination: A strong coordinating mechanism, often led by the largest party, keeps the coalition functioning.

The large number of parties and alliances can be confusing, but this diversity reflects the social and regional diversity of India.

Q4. Does the cartoon reflect the data graphics shown on the previous page?

Answer:

The cartoon 'Crunching the Numbers' likely depicts the paradox shown in the data graphics: while political parties are among the least trusted institutions in South Asia and most other democracies, the level of participation in party activities in India has been fairly high and has gone up steadily over the last three decades. The proportion of people who say they feel 'close to a political party' has also gone up in India. So, the cartoon may reflect the gap between low trust in parties and high participation in them, or it may comment on the declining trust in parties despite their visibility.

Q5. Why don't parties give enough tickets to women? Is that also due to lack of internal democracy?

Answer:

Yes, the lack of internal democracy within political parties is one of the reasons why parties do not give enough tickets to women. When power is concentrated in a few top leaders, and there are no transparent procedures for candidate selection, women and other under-represented groups find it difficult to get tickets. Other reasons include:

• Patriarchal attitudes that consider women less capable of winning elections.
• Preference for male candidates who are seen as more likely to win.
• Women's lack of access to resources, networks and party hierarchies.
• Fear of harassment and character assassination in politics.
• The burden of household responsibilities.

This is why many have suggested that it should be made mandatory for political parties to give at least one-third of tickets to women candidates, and to have a quota for women in the decision-making bodies of the party.

Q6. Does this suggest that in democracies people contest elections only to make money? But isn't it true that there are politicians committed to the well-being of the people?

Answer:

No, it does not suggest that people contest elections only to make money. While the growing role of money and muscle power is a serious challenge, many politicians are genuinely committed to the well-being of the people. They enter politics to serve society, bring about change and work for development. However, the increasing cost of elections and the influence of rich donors and criminals are real problems that need to be addressed through reforms such as state funding of elections, stricter disclosure requirements, and stronger laws against criminalisation of politics. The presence of committed politicians shows that democracy still attracts people with good intentions, but the system needs to be reformed to reduce the influence of money and muscle power.

Q7. Can you identify which of the challenges described in this section are being highlighted in these cartoons (on pages 57 to 59)? What are the ways to curb the misuse of money and muscle power in politics?

Answer:

The cartoons on pages 57 to 59 highlight the following challenges:

• Berlusconi Puppet Theatre (page 57): This cartoon highlights the challenge of the growing role of money and big business in politics. Berlusconi, a top businessman and Prime Minister of Italy, owned TV channels, publishing companies, a football club and a bank. The cartoon suggests that his business interests controlled the government, showing how money power can undermine democracy.
• Huffaker cartoon (page 58): This cartoon, drawn during George Bush's presidency in the USA, suggests that Corporate America controls all major institutions of the country. It highlights the challenge of the growing role of money and big companies in democratic politics.
• Manjul cartoon (page 59): This cartoon likely highlights the challenge of criminalisation of politics and the misuse of money and muscle power during elections.

Ways to curb the misuse of money and muscle power:

• State funding of elections so that parties do not depend on rich donors.
• Stricter disclosure requirements for candidates and parties regarding their assets, liabilities and criminal cases.
• Stronger laws and faster trials for criminal cases against politicians.
• Greater transparency in party funding and expenditure.
• Empowering the Election Commission to take strict action against violations.
• Awareness among voters to reject candidates with criminal backgrounds and those who use money power.

Q8. Do you agree that this form of reforming political parties will be acceptable to them?

Answer:

No, it is unlikely that political parties will readily accept all these reforms, especially those that reduce their power or require them to be more transparent and accountable. For example, a law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties, mandatory one-third tickets for women, and state funding of elections may face resistance from parties because:

• Parties may see such laws as interference in their internal matters.
• Existing leaders may resist changes that threaten their position.
• Parties may not want to give up the advantage of money power.
• There may be disagreements on the details of state funding.

However, if there is strong public pressure through petitions, publicity, agitations, media scrutiny, and if ordinary citizens join political parties and work for reforms from within, parties may be compelled to accept reforms. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation, so citizens must take an active interest in reforming political parties.

Exercises

Q1. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.

Answer:

Political parties perform the following functions in a democracy:

1. Contest elections: Parties select candidates and contest elections. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among candidates put up by political parties.
2. Put forward policies and programmes: Parties put forward different policies and programmes, and voters choose from them. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions.
3. Make laws: Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Most members in the legislature belong to a party and go by the direction of the party leadership.
4. Form and run governments: Parties recruit leaders, train them and make them ministers to run the government.
5. Play the role of opposition: Parties that lose elections voice different views and criticise the government for its failures or wrong policies.
6. Shape public opinion: Parties raise and highlight issues, launch movements and crystallise public opinion.
7. Provide access to government machinery: Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes. An ordinary citizen can approach a local party leader more easily than a government officer.

Q2. What are the various challenges faced by political parties?

Answer:

Political parties face the following challenges:

1. Lack of internal democracy: There is a tendency towards concentration of power in one or 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 do not get sufficient information or the means to influence decisions.
2. Dynastic succession: Since most parties do not practice open and transparent procedures, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top. Top positions are often controlled by members of one family. People without adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
3. Growing role of money and muscle power: Parties tend to nominate candidates who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies influence policies and decisions. In some cases, parties support criminals who can win elections.
4. Lack of meaningful choice: There has been a decline in ideological differences among parties. In Britain, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party is very little. In India too, differences among major parties on economic policies have reduced. Sometimes the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.

Q3. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?

Answer:

Some reforms to strengthen political parties are:

1. Law to regulate internal affairs: A law should be made to make it compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of members, follow their own constitution, have an independent authority to act as a judge in case of party disputes, and hold open elections to the highest posts.
2. Minimum tickets for women: It should be made mandatory for political parties to give at least one-third of tickets to women candidates. There should also be a quota for women in the decision-making bodies of the party.
3. State funding of elections: The government should give parties money to support their election expenses. This support could be in kind (petrol, paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the basis of votes secured in the last election.
4. Prevention of defection: The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. If they change parties, they lose their seat in the legislature.
5. Affidavit by candidates: The Supreme Court made it mandatory for every candidate to file an affidavit giving details of property and criminal cases pending against them.
6. Organisational elections and income tax returns: The Election Commission made it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns.
7. Public pressure: People can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitations. Ordinary citizens, pressure groups, movements and the media can play an important role.
8. Join political parties: Political parties can improve if those who want reform join political parties. The quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation.

Q4. What is a political party?

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 the society with a view to promote the collective good. Since there can be different views on what is good for all, parties try to persuade people why their policies are better than others. They seek to implement these policies by winning popular support through elections. A political party has three components: the leaders, the active members and the followers.

Q5. What are the characteristics of a political party?

Answer:

The characteristics of a political party are:

• It is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
• Its members agree on some policies and programmes for the society with a view to promote the collective good.
• It seeks to implement its policies by winning popular support through elections.
• It reflects fundamental political divisions in a society and involves partisanship.
• It has three components: the leaders, the active members and the followers.
• It is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interests it upholds.

Q6. A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a _____________________.

Answer:

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

Q7. 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

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

Answer:

The correct answer is (c) C A D B.

The correct matches are:

Q8. Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party? A. Kanshi Ram B. Sahu Maharaj C. B.R. Ambedkar D. Jotiba Phule

Answer:

The correct answer is A. Kanshi Ram.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. It draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar, but Kanshi Ram was its founder.

Q9. What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party? A. Bahujan Samaj B. Revolutionary democracy C. Integral humanism D. Modernity

Answer:

The correct answer is C. Integral humanism.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) draws inspiration from India's ancient culture and values, and from 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.

Q10. 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) A, B, and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C

Answer:

The correct answer is (b) A and B.

Statement A is correct: Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people in South Asia and most other democracies. Statement B is correct: Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders. Statement C is incorrect: Parties are necessary to run governments in a democracy. Without parties, no one would be responsible for how the country is run, and it would be difficult to form a responsible government.

Q11. 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? Do you agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people? How do you want this new party organised to make it different from other parties? If you were the one to begin this political party, how would you defend it?

Answer:

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

Yes, Muhammad Yunus made a right decision to float a new political party. In a democracy, any group of citizens is free to form a political party. Yunus, with his experience in economic and social development and his commitment to the poor, was well-placed to offer a new kind of politics based on proper leadership, good governance and a new political culture. His decision to form a party that would be democratic from the grassroots level was a positive step towards strengthening democracy in Bangladesh.

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

I agree with the positive statements of Shahedul Islam, who welcomed the new party as giving Bangladesh a chance to choose between good and bad and to have a good government. I do not agree with the fears expressed by traditional party leaders and critics. Their apprehension that politics is 'very challenging and often controversial' is true, but it is not a reason to discourage a well-meaning person from entering politics. The criticism that Yunus was 'planted' by outside mentors is unfounded and unfair. Democracy should welcome new parties and new leaders.

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

I would want the new party to be organised on the following lines to make it different from traditional parties:

• It should be democratic from the grassroots level, with open and transparent procedures for membership, decision-making and candidate selection.
• It should hold regular internal elections and maintain a register of members.
• It should give at least one-third of tickets to women candidates and have a quota for women in decision-making bodies.
• It should be funded by state funding and small donations, not by big businesses or criminals.
• It should not be controlled by one family or a few leaders.
• It should focus on good governance, anti-corruption, and the welfare of the poor.
• It should be accountable to the people and responsive to their needs.

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

If I were the one to begin this political party, I would defend it by saying:

• Democracy needs new parties and new leaders to remain vibrant and responsive.
• The party is not formed for personal power but for the collective good of the people.
• It is committed to proper leadership, good governance and a new political culture.
• It will be democratic from the grassroots level, giving ordinary citizens a voice.
• It will fight corruption and black money and work for the welfare of the poor.
• It will be transparent in its funding and internal functioning.
• It will welcome all citizens who share its ideals, regardless of their background.
• The party is a response to the failures of traditional parties and the aspirations of the people for a better Bangladesh.