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MADE BYGOPAL KRISHNA BISWASX -BPOLITICAL PARTIES IN INDIA

What are political parties?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 a society with a view to promote collective good.A political party has three main components-1.The leaders2.The active members and3. The supporters.

Functions of the political partiesParties contest elections.Parties form and run governments in country.Parties put different policies and programmes.Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power.Parties shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues.Parties provide people access to gov.t machinery and welfare schemes implemented.

What a common Indian think about political parties? Most people in India tend to be very critical of political parties. They blame parties for all the wrong with our democracy and our political life. the parties were also identified with social and political divisions in our country.

Why do we need political parties?We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation where political parties doesnt exist. Every candidate in the elections will be independent , so no candidate will be able to make any promises to the people about any major changes. The government may be formed but its utility will remain ever uncertain. Elected representatives will be accountable to their consistuency only. No one will be responsible for how the country will be run

Different party systems in the worldSingle dominant partyInone party systems ,one political party is legally allowed to hold effective power. Although minor parties may sometimes be allowed, they are legally required to accept the leadership of the dominant party. This party may not always be identical to the government, although sometimes positions within the party may in fact be more important than positions within the government.Chinais an example; Two political partiesTwo party systems are states such asUnited States of America in which there are two political parties dominant to such an extent that electoral success under the banner of any other party is almost impossible. Oneright wingcoalition party and one leftwing coalition party .

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Multiple political parties

A poster for the European parliament election 2004 in Italy, showing party listsMulti party systems are systems in which more than two parties are represented and elected to public office.Australia ,Canada ,Pakistan ,India ,Ireland ,United Kingdom and Norway are examples of countries with two strong parties and additional smaller parties that have also obtained representation. The smaller or "third" parties may form a part of a coalition governmenttogether with one of the larger parties or act independently from the other dominant parties.More commonly, in cases where there are three or more parties, no one party is likely to gain power alone, and parties work with each other to form coalition government.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN PARTY SYSTEMMultiple Party system In 2006 national parties -6; regional parties -35, non recognized parties 612,Rise of Effective Opposition Party Independent Members Existence of many Communal and Regional Parties Absence of Specific Constitutional Provision - Article 19(C) -All citizens shall have the right to form associations or unions.-

Types of political partiesThere are two types of political parties 1.National parties A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in lok sabha elections or assembly elections in four states and win at least 4 seats in lok sabha is recognized as a national party.2.State / Regional parties A party that secures atleast 6% of the of the total votes in state legislative assembly elections and wins at least 2 seats is recognized as state party.

MAJOR NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES

S.N.SymbolFlagNameAcronymYearParty leader1.Bahujan Samaj PartyBSP1984Mayawati2.Bharatiya Janata Party BJP1980Nitin Gadkari3.Communist Party of IndiaCPI1925A.B. Bardhan4.Communist Party of India (MarxistCPI (M)1964Prakash Karat5.Indian National Congress INC1885Sonia Gandhi6.Nationalist Congress PartyNCP1999Sharad Pawar

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC)One of the oldest parties of the world. Founded in 1885 by members of theoccultistmovementTheosophical SocietyAllan Octavian Hume,Dadabhai Naoroji,Dinshaw Wacha,Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee,Surendranath Banerjee,Monomohun Ghose, andMahadev Govind Ranade It played a important role in the independence of India.It was a ruling party till 1977 after independence.A centrist party in its ideological orientation, the party espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections.Currently leads the ruling united progressive alliance.The party's political symbol is hand

Prime Ministers of the Republic of India from the Indian National CongressJawaharlal Nehru(19471964)Gulzarilal Nanda(MayJune 1964 and in January 1966)Lal Bahadur Shastri(19641966)Indira Gandhi (19661977, 19801984)Rajiv Gandhi(19841989)P.V. Narasimha Rao(19911996)Manmohan Singh(20042014)

ChairpersonSonia GandhiLeader in LokSabhaPranab MukherjeeLeader in RajyaSabhaManmohan SinghHeadquarters24, Akbar Road,New Delhi, 110011Student wingNational Students Union of IndiaYouth wingIndian Youth CongressWomen's wingMahila CongressLabour wingIndian National Trade Union CongressPolitical positionCenter-leftInternational affiliationAlliance of DemocratsOfficial coloursAquaECIStatusNational PartyAllianceUnited Progressive Alliance(UPA)Seats in LokSabha205/545Seats in RajyaSabha70/250

BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY (BJP)The BJP is the current form of the erstwhileBharatiya Jana Sangh(BJS,Indian People's Union), which was founded in October 21, 1951 bySyama Prasad Mookerjee Believes in Indian Nationalism(Hindu Nationalism),Integral humanism, Economic liberalism, Gandhian Socialism, Conservatism, Social conservatism.Came to power in 1998 as the leader of national democratic alliance.Earlier limited to the northern and western parts of the country.The principal opposition party in lok sabha.The party's political symbol is a lotus

ChairpersonNitin GadkariLeader in LokSabhaSushma SwarajLeader in RajyaSabhaArun JaitleyPreceded byBharatiya Jana SanghHeadquarters11 Ashoka Road,

New Delhi, 110001NewspaperKamal SandeshYouth wingBharatiya Janata Yuva MorchaWomen's wingBJP Mahila MorchaLabour wingBharatiya Mazdoor SanghPeasant'swingBharatiya Kisan SanghPolitical positionCentre-rightOfficial coloursOrangeECIStatusNational PartySeats in LokSabha116/545Seats in RajyaSabha51/250

BAHUJAN S AMAJ PARTY (BSP)It was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.Its main base is in Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states.The party's political symbol is anElephant.

ChairpersonMayawatiSecretary-GeneralSatish Chandra MishraLeader in LokSabhaRajesh VermaLeader in RajyaSabhaUrmilesh Kumar BhartiHeadquarters12, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road,New Delhi- 110001Political positionCenterOfficial coloursBlueECIStatusNational PartySeats in LokSabha21/545Seats in RajyaSabha18/250

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (CPI)It was formed in 1925. The founding members of the party wereM.N. Roy,Evelyn Trent Roy(Roy's wife),Abani Mukherji,Rosa Fitingof(Abani's wife), Mohammad Ali (Ahmed Hasan),Mohammad Shafiq Siddiqui andM.P.B.T. Acharya.It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy.Became weak after the split in the party in1964.Has significant presence in the states of Kerala ,West Bengal ,Punjab ,Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The principal mass organizations of the CPI are:All India Trade Union CongressAll India Youth FederationAll India Students FederationNational Federation of Indian WomenAll India Kisan Sabha(peasants organization)Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union(agricultural workers)All India State Government Employees Federation(State government employees)

Secretary-GeneralA.B. BardhanHeadquartersNew Delhi,IndiaPolitical positionFar-leftInternational affiliationInternational Conference of Communist and Workers' Parties.Official coloursRedAllianceLeft FrontECIStatusNational Party

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA MARXIST (CPI-M)It was founded in 1964 due to a split in communist party of India. It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism.Enjoys strong support in West Bengal ,Kerala ,and Tripura.Has been in power in West Bengal without a break for 30 years.

Secretary-GeneralPrakash KaratLeader in LokSabhaBasudev AchariaLeader in RajyaSabhaSitaram YechuriHeadquartersNew Delhi,IndiaStudent wingStudents Federation of IndiaYouth wingDemocratic Youth Federation of IndiaWomen's wingAll India Democratic Womens AssociationLabour wingCentre of Indian Trade UnionsPeasant'swingAll India Kisan SabhaPolitical positionFar-leftECIStatusNational PartyAllianceLeft FrontSeats in LokSabha16/545Seats in RajyaSabha15/250

NATIONAL CONGRESS PARTY (NCP)

It was formed in 1999 due to a split in Indian national congress.Espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social just.ice and federalism. Wants that high offices in government must be confined to natural born citizens of India.It is a major party in Maharashtra and. significant presence in Meghalaya ,Manipur and Assam.A member of United Progressive Alliance.

ChairpersonSharad PawarFounded1999Headquarters10, Bishambhar Das Marg,New Delhi, 110001Political positionCentre/Centre leftOfficial coloursAquaAllianceUnited Progressive AllianceECIStatusNational PartySeats in LokSabha9/545Seats in RajyaSabha7/250

Some recognized state parties NameYearParty leaderStatesAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam1972J. JayalalithaTamil Nadu,PondicherryAll India Forward Bloc1939Debabrata BiswasWest BengalAll India Trinamool Congress1998Mamata BanerjeeArunachal Pradesh,Asom Gana Parishad1985Prafulla Kumar MahantaAssamBiju Janata Dal1997Naveen PatnaikOrissaDravida Munnetra Kazhagam1949M KarunanidhiTamil Nadu,PondicherryIndian National Lok Dal1999Om Prakash ChautalaHaryanaJammu & Kashmir National Conference1932Omar AbdullahJammu and KashmirJammu & Kashmir National Panthers PartyNABhim SinghJammu and KashmirJammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party1998Mufti Mohammed SayeedJammu and Kashmir

Some recognized state parties NameYearParty leaderStatesJanata Dal (Secular)1999H.D. Deve GowdaKarnataka KeralaJanata Dal (United)1999Nitish kumarBiharJharkhand Mukti Morcha1972Shibu SorenJharkhandOrissaKerala Congress1964P.J. JosephKeralaKerala Congress (M)1979C.F. ThomasKeralaLok Jan Shakti Party2000Ram Vilas PaswanBiharMaharashtra Navnirman Sena2006Raj ThackerayMaharashtraMaharashtrawadi Gomantak Party1963Shashikala KakodkarGoaManipur People's Party1968O. Joy SinghManipurMizo National Front1959Pu ZoramthangaMizoramMizoram People's Conference1972Pu LalhmingthangaMizoramMuslim League Kerala State Committee1948G.M. BanatwallaKeralaNagaland People's Front2002Neiphiu RioNagalandPattali Makkal Katchi1989G. K. ManiTamil Nadu

Some recognized state parties NameYearParty leaderStatesPraja Rajyam Party2008ChiranjeeviAndhra PradesPudhucherry Munnetra Congress2005P. KannanPondicherryRevolutionary Socialist Party1940T.J. ChandrachoodanWest BengalSamajwadi Party1992Mulayam Singh YadavUttar PradeshSave Goa FrontNAChurchill AlemaoGoaShiromani Akali Dal1920Parkash Singh BadalPunjabShiv Sena1966Bal ThackerayMaharashtraSikkim Democratic Front1993Pawan Kumar ChamlingSikkimTelangana Rashtra Samithi2001K. Chandrashekar RaoAndhra PradeshUnited Democratic PartyNADonkupar RoyMeghalayaUttarakhand Kranti Dal1979Bipin Chandra TripathiUttarakhandZoram Nationalist Party1997LalduhomaMizoram

Challenges to political partiesThe lack of internal democracy within parties manifests in the following:1. Parties do not keep membership registers2. Parties do not hold organizational meetings.3. Parties do not conduct internal elections regularly.Ordinary members do not have sufficient information about the party.4. All powers get centralized among the top leaders.

Lack of internal democracy

Challenges to political parties Dynastic succession is a feature common to most of the political parties, both at the national and state level where top positions in the party become hereditary. others members cannot even aspire to reach these positions. Dynastic successionGrowing role of money and muscleThe role of money and muscle is on the rise in almost all the parties. Those with money and muscle power begin to control the various organs of the party.

How can parties be reformedThey can be reformed byMaintaining a regular register of its members.Makings rules and regulations.Holding elections for higher posts in the party.Giving more tickets to the women.Giving funds to parties for elections.

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