Political Parties & Their Challenges
Parties are essential to democracy—but they also face structural problems. Learn the key challenges, recent reforms, and exam terms with quick practice at the end.
🧠 Internal Democracy👪 Dynastic Succession💸 Money & Muscle🎭 Meaningful Choice
🚧 Core Challenges in Political Parties
🧠 Lack of Internal Democracy
Power centralised at the top; ordinary members lack information & voice; internal polls rare; loyalty to leader outweighs debate.
👪 Dynastic Succession
Opaque procedures favour family/friends; hard for grassroots workers to rise on merit.
💸 Money & Muscle Power
High-cost campaigns → tickets to rich/“strongmen”; sometimes support to criminal elements, especially during elections.
🎭 Weak, Non-Meaningful Choices
Ideological differences have narrowed; leaders switch sides; voters see similar manifestos → limited real alternatives.
🧰 Reforms — What’s Being Done (and What’s Suggested)
| Reform | What it Does | Targets Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| 🧾 Anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule, 52nd CAA, 1985) | Disqualifies MLAs/MPs for party-hopping; stabilises govts. | 🎭 Meaningful choice; 💸 money power via inducements |
| 📑 Candidate affidavits (assets & cases disclosure) | Mandatory self-declaration to curb criminalisation & black money. | 💸 Money/muscle; transparency |
| 🗳️ ECI directions on internal elections & IT returns | Parties must hold organisational polls & file accounts/ITR. | 🧠 Internal democracy; 👪 dynastic control |
| 📘 Follow party constitution & independent dispute body | Membership register; internal judge/ombudsperson; open elections. | 🧠 Internal democracy |
| 👩⚖️ Women’s representation in tickets & party posts (1/3rd suggested) | Reserve tickets & leadership roles to improve gender balance. | 🎭 Broader choices; inclusion |
| ⛽ State funding (in kind: fuel, paper, phone; or cash by past vote share) | Reduces dependence on big donors; levels the field. | 💸 Money power |
| 📣 Civic pressure (petitions, publicity, agitation) | Public demand compels parties to adopt clean practices. | All of the above |
🧩 Anti-Defection Law — Snapshot
- 📜 Added as the Tenth Schedule by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985.
- 🚫 Disqualifies legislators who defect (switch parties) after being elected—aims to prevent govt instability.
- 🧭 Context: Frequent toppling of state govts post-1967; phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” coined after an MLA switched thrice in 15 days.
📚 Key Terms — Quick Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Political Party | Group that contests elections & governs. |
| Partisanship | Taking sides; party’s image via policies & interests represented. |
| Elections | Citizens choose representatives who make laws. |
| Policies | Rules/principles to achieve long-term goals. |
| Welfare Schemes | Govt aid programs (e.g., Swachh Bharat, Mid-Day Meal, Ayushman Bharat). |
| Ruling Party | Party/coalition with majority; runs govt. |
| Opposition | Largest non-govt party; scrutinises & holds govt accountable. |
| Representative Democracy | People elect leaders to govern (e.g., India). |
| Alliance/Coalition | Multiple parties join to form govt (e.g., NDA, UPA, Left Front). |
| Defection | Switching parties after election; triggers disqualification under anti-defection law. |
| Affidavit | Signed sworn statement (assets, cases, etc.). |
| Election Commission | Autonomous body conducting Union & State elections. |
| MLA / MP | Member of Legislative Assembly / Parliament. |
👤 Key Personalities — Snapshot
Jawaharlal Nehru
Prominent INC leader; India’s first PM.
Kanshi Ram
Founded BSP to represent Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs.
Mamata Banerjee
CM of West Bengal; founder of AITC.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Founded Bharatiya Jana Sangh (precursor to BJP).
P. A. Sangma
Founder of National People’s Party (NPP).
Silvio Berlusconi
Former PM of Italy; noted businessman.
🧠 Exam Quick Notes
- ✅ Core challenges: internal democracy, dynastic control, money/muscle, weak choices.
- ✅ Key reforms: anti-defection law, affidavits, ECI-mandated internal polls & ITR, stronger party constitutions, women’s representation, possible state funding, civic pressure.
- ✅ Anti-Defection = Tenth Schedule (1985); stabilises governments by discouraging party-hopping.
📝 Try These
- Mention two reasons why parties often lack internal democracy. Suggest two remedies.
- Explain the purpose of the anti-defection law. How does it affect stability?
- What information must a candidate disclose via affidavit? Why is it important for voters?
- Give three measures to reduce money and muscle power in elections.
- “Parties don’t offer meaningful choices.” Do you agree? Give two arguments and one counter-argument.