The chapter Political Parties Class 10 Notes are provided here for a better understanding of the concepts discussed in the chapter

Political Parties Class 10 Notes

Political party – a political party is a group of people who come simultaneously  to contest elections and hold power in government

Component-

1. leaders
2. Active members
3. Followers

Functions of political parties –

1. Parties contest elections
2. Parties prioritize different policies and programs
3. Parties play an important role in making the laws of the country
4. Parties form and run a government
5. Those parties that lose in elections plays the role of opposition
6. Parties shape public opinions

Why do we need political parties?

1. Democracy cannot exist without political parties
2. No one will be capable of making any promises about any major policy changes.
3. Government utility will remain uncertain
4. Large societies need some agency to present the issues of the government

How many political parties should we have?

More than 750 parties are registered with the election commission of India as of 2006

One-party system- in some countries only one party is allowed to run and control the government. E.g.- China

Two-party system – power usually changes between two main parties. E.g. – U.S.A

Multiparty system – when more than two parties compete for power. E.g. – India

National parties-

A party that receives at least six per cent of votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in 4 states and win at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party.

National parties of India-

There are 8 national parties in the country according to national election commission reports of 2019.

1. Indian national congress –

• Popularly known as congress party
• Founded – 1885, by- A.O Hume
• Ideology – secularism and welfare of weak sections and minorities
• Alliance – united progressive alliance (UPA)

2. Bhartiya Janata party –

• Founded – 1980, by – Bhartiya Jana sangha
• Ideology – cultural nationalism (Hindutva)
• Alliance – national democratic alliance (NDA)

3. Bahujan samaj party –

• Formed – 1980, by- kanshi ram
• Seeks to represent Bahujan samaj including Dalits, adivasi, obc’s and minority religions

4. Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI-M) –

• Founded – 1964
• Belief- Marxism – Leninism
• Supports socialism, secularism and democracy

5. Communist Party of India –

• Formed – 1925
• Belief – Marxism – Leninism

6. Nationalist congress party –

• Formed – 1999
• Formed after a split in congress party.

7. All India Trinamool congress

8. National People’s Party

State parties-

a party that receives at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the legislative assembly of a state and wins at least 2 seats.

• Majority of the parties are recognized as state parties
• E.g. – Samajwadi party, Rastriya Janata dal

Challenges to political parties –

1. Lack of internal democracy
2. Dynastic succession
3. The growing role of money and muscle strength
4. No meaningful choice

How parties can be reformed –

Suggestions to reform political parties –

1. A law should be made to govern the internal affairs of political parties
2. Making it mandatory to give minimum number of tickets .
3. 1/3 tickets to women
4. State funding of elections

Efforts made to reform parties –

1. Constitution was amended to prevent Mla’s and MP’s from changing parties
2. Supreme court passed order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. It became mandatory to file affidavit giving details pf candidates property and criminal cases pending against him
3. Election commission passed an order making it compulsary for parties to hold organizational elections and file the income tax return.

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