Political Parties
Political parties are the groups that contest elections to hold governmental power on agreed policies, and by aggregating opinions, forming governments and providing opposition they become a necessary condition for representative democracy.
This is core GS-II material on the functioning of democracy and the people's representation. Prelims loves the Election Commission's recognition thresholds (State vs national party), the China/USA-UK/India party-system examples, the 2004 alliances, and anchors like Article 324 and the anti-defection Tenth Schedule. Mains uses it for debates on coalition politics, internal party democracy and electoral reform.
Understand the chapter
What a Political Party Is: Meaning and Components
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government, agreeing on policies and programmes meant to promote the collective good. Because people differ on what is 'good', parties take sides — they are partisan — and so reflect the fundamental political divisions of a society. A party is therefore known by which part of society it stands for, whose interests it upholds and which policies it supports.
- Three components: the leaders, the active members and the followers.
- Partisanship = strong commitment to a side and inability to take a balanced view.
- Parties are the most visible institution of democracy but among the least trusted worldwide.
The Seven Functions of Parties
Parties fill political offices and exercise political power through a chain of functions. They compress a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions, contest elections on them, and the ruling party's line becomes the basis of government policy; parties that lose form the opposition. They also link citizens to the state through pressure groups, movements and access to welfare schemes.
- Contest elections and select candidates (members choose in the USA; top leaders choose in India).
- Put forward policies/programmes and play a decisive role in making laws.
- Form and run governments via the political executive; losing parties form the opposition.
- Shape public opinion and give ordinary citizens access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
Why Democracies Cannot Do Without Parties
The rise of parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracy. Imagine elections without parties: every candidate would be independent, no one could promise major policy changes, and no one would be accountable for how the whole country is run. Large, complex societies need an agency to gather views, present them to government and either support or restrain it — exactly what parties do.
- Even non-party panchayat elections split villages into factions that put up rival 'panels'.
- Independents answer only to their constituency; parties make someone accountable for the nation.
- Hence parties are a necessary condition for democracy.
How Many Parties? One, Two and Multiparty Systems
A party system is not chosen by a country; it evolves over time from a society's social and regional divisions, its political history and its electoral system. One-party systems bar free competition and so are not democratic; two-party systems see power alternate between two big parties; multiparty systems let several parties win power alone or in coalition. India's deep social and geographical diversity could not be absorbed by two or three parties, so a multiparty system evolved.
- One-party: China (only the Communist Party may rule) — not a democratic option.
- Two-party: USA and UK — only two parties realistically win a majority.
- Multiparty: India — governments often formed by coalitions; representative but can be unstable.
- Alliance/front: parties grouping to contest — 2004 had NDA, UPA and the Left Front.
Registration vs Recognition: State and National Party Criteria
Every party must register with the Election Commission of India, which treats all equally but grants 'recognised' parties special facilities — above all a reserved, unique election symbol usable only by that party's official candidates. The ECI fixes vote-and-seat thresholds for recognition as a State or national party. Over 750 parties are registered, yet only a handful are effective contenders.
- State party: at least 6% of votes in the State Legislative Assembly election AND at least 2 seats.
- National party: at least 6% of votes in Lok Sabha (or Assembly polls in four States) AND at least 4 Lok Sabha seats.
- Six recognised national parties as per the ECI notification of 2023.
- ECI is a constitutional body (Article 324); parties register under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
India's National Parties and Public Engagement
National parties operate countrywide, with state units broadly following a common policy and strategy decided nationally. The chapter profiles parties such as the BJP, BSP and AAP, each rooted in a distinct ideology and social base. Survey data reveal a paradox: trust in parties is low across South Asia and globally, yet membership and 'closeness' to parties in India are high and have risen steadily over three decades.
- BJP: founded 1980 by reviving the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, 1951).
- BSP: formed 1984 under Kanshi Ram for the bahujan samaj (dalits, adivasis, OBCs, minorities), base in UP.
- AAP: formed 26 November 2012 after the 2011 anti-corruption movement, on a good-governance plank.
- Low trust in parties but high and rising participation/membership in India.
What's Wrong with Parties and How to Reform Them
The chapter's stated aim includes examining 'what is wrong with political parties and what can be done about it'. The standard challenges are lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and the absence of a meaningful choice for voters. Reforms range from the anti-defection law to stricter disclosure and proposed internal-democracy and funding measures.
- Four challenges: no internal democracy; dynastic succession; money & muscle power; no meaningful choice.
- Anti-defection law: Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985.
- Disclosure: candidates file affidavits declaring assets and criminal cases (Supreme Court direction).
- Suggested reforms: regulate internal functioning, a quota for women, and state funding of elections.
Key terms
- Political party
- A group that comes together to contest elections and hold governmental power on agreed policies for the collective good.
- Partisan
- A person strongly committed to a party or faction, marked by an inability to take a balanced view.
- Ruling party
- The political party (or coalition) that runs the government.
- Opposition
- Parties that lost the election and check the government by voicing alternatives and criticising failures.
- One-party system
- A system in which only one party is legally allowed to rule (e.g., China) — not a democratic option.
- Two-party system
- A system where power usually alternates between two major parties (USA, UK).
- Multiparty system
- A system where several parties can win power alone or in coalition (India).
- Alliance / Front
- Several parties joining hands to contest elections and win power together, e.g., NDA, UPA, Left Front.
- Recognised party
- A party granted a reserved symbol and special facilities by the ECI on meeting fixed vote/seat criteria.
- Coalition government
- A government formed by several parties coming together, typical of a multiparty system.
Must-know facts exam-ready
- A party has three components: leaders, active members and followers.
- Parties perform seven functions: contest elections, make policies, make laws, form/run government, lead opposition, shape opinion, and provide access to welfare schemes.
- State party recognition: at least 6% of votes in the State Assembly poll plus at least 2 seats.
- National party recognition: at least 6% of votes (Lok Sabha, or Assembly polls in four States) plus at least 4 Lok Sabha seats.
- More than 750 parties are registered with the Election Commission of India.
- Six recognised national parties as per the ECI notification of 2023.
- Party systems: One-party = China; Two-party = USA and UK; Multiparty = India.
- The 2004 Lok Sabha elections had three major alliances: NDA, UPA and the Left Front.
- BJP was founded in 1980 by reviving the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, 1951).
- BSP was formed in 1984 under Kanshi Ram for the bahujan samaj, with its main base in Uttar Pradesh.
- AAP was formed on 26 November 2012 following the 2011 anti-corruption movement.
- Anti-defection law is in the Tenth Schedule, added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985.
Timeline
- 1951Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
- 1980Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) founded, reviving the Jana Sangh.
- 1984Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) formed under Kanshi Ram.
- 1985Anti-defection law added via the 52nd Constitutional Amendment (Tenth Schedule).
- 2004Three major alliances — NDA, UPA and Left Front — contest the Lok Sabha elections.
- 2012Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed on 26 November.
- 2023ECI notification recognises six national parties.
Memory tricks remember it for good
Traps to avoid
- Registration vs recognition: ALL parties must register with the ECI, but only those crossing vote/seat thresholds are 'recognised' and get a reserved symbol.
- Swapping the criteria: State = 6% + 2 seats; National = 6% (in four States) + 4 Lok Sabha seats — do not interchange the numbers.
- A one-party system is NOT democratic: legal freedom to form parties does not mean real competition exists (China).
- Two-party vs multiparty: USA and UK are two-party; India is multiparty — coalitions/alliances are an Indian (multiparty) feature, not a two-party one.
- 'Most visible' is not 'most popular': parties are among the least-trusted institutions, yet Indian participation/membership is high and rising.
- Partisan means taking a side, not being neutral — a partisan cannot give a balanced view.
Exam focus
🧠 Prelims angles
- ECI recognition criteria for State vs national parties (6% + 2 seats; 6% in four States + 4 Lok Sabha seats).
- Matching party-system types to examples: China (one), USA & UK (two), India (multi).
- The 2004 alliances — NDA, UPA, Left Front — and the meaning of 'front/alliance'.
- Article 324 (ECI as a constitutional body) and registration of parties under the RPA, 1951.
- Anti-defection law: Tenth Schedule, 52nd Constitutional Amendment, 1985.
- Static numbers: over 750 registered parties; six recognised national parties (ECI, 2023).
✍️ Mains angles GS-II
- Are political parties a 'necessary evil' in a democracy?Establish necessity via the seven functions and accountability, then weigh challenges (dynasty, money-muscle, weak internal democracy) and the reform agenda.
- Has India's multiparty system strengthened or destabilised its democracy?Balance wide representation of social/regional diversity against coalition instability; use the 2004 alliances and India's diversity argument.
- Internal democracy and money power are the biggest threats to Indian parties — suggest reforms.Discuss the anti-defection law, disclosure affidavits, and proposed state funding, women's quota and regulation of internal functioning.
Last-minute revision tick as you recall
- Party = group contesting elections to hold power on agreed policies; 3 parts = leaders, active members, followers.
- Seven functions → 'A COOL PG': Access, Contest, Opposition, Opinion, Laws, Policies, Government.
- Systems: One = China, Two = USA/UK, Multi = India.
- 2004 alliances: NDA, UPA, Left Front.
- Recognition: State = 6% + 2 seats; National = 6% (four States) + 4 Lok Sabha seats.
- Over 750 registered parties; six national parties (ECI, 2023).
- BJP 1980 (from Jana Sangh, 1951); BSP 1984 (Kanshi Ram); AAP 2012.
- ECI = Article 324; registration under RPA, 1951; recognised parties get a reserved symbol.
- Challenges = no internal democracy, dynasty, money & muscle, no real choice; key reform = anti-defection (Tenth Schedule, 52nd Amendment, 1985).
Distilled from NCERT Class 10 · Democratic Politics II for UPSC. Always cross-check facts with the original NCERT.