Ans) A political party can be understood as an organized group of people who work for the purpose of contesting elections and gaining political power in the government. Keeping in mind the collective interest of the society, this group decides some policies and programmes. Collective interest is a controversial idea. Everyone has a different opinion about this. On this basis, parties try to convince people that their policies are better than others. They try to implement those policies after winning the election by getting the support of the people.

In the words of Garner, “Political party is defined as an organized group of human beings within a state which by peaceful and legal means by securing a majority of the electoral college of a country in their favour, for the fulfillment of any political objective or economic goal.”

Thus, parties also represent the basic political division of a society. The party belongs to a section of the society. Therefore its attitude is inclined towards to that particular section of the society. The identity of a party is determined by its policies and its social base.

Ans)The characteristics of a political party:-

1. Continuing to create public opinion in support of its ideas.
2. To be organized and governed by a legislation.
3. To be registered in Election Commission.
4. To have a unique symbol for identity.
5. The main objective is to get power by winning the election.
6. To prepare public opinion against the anti-people policies keeping an eye on the ruling party.

Ans) Democracy without party is not practical. In fact, the existence of political parties is essential for representative governance. The only practical way to remove the evils of political parties is to raise the intellectual and moral level of the people. Apart from this in every circumstance, love for the nation should be given a higher place than devotion to parties. Citizens motivated by qualified public sentiments should be given in political parties. Political Parties are important for representative governance. By following these measures, political parties can be made more useful for representative governance.

Ans) The role of political parties in India are:-

1. Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issue.
2. Parties contest elections.
3. Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
4. Parties only form and run governments.
5. Parties put forward different policies and programmes.
6. Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power.

Ans) In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-party systems. For example –

In China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule. Although, legally speaking, people are free to form political parties, it does not happen because the electoral system does not permit free competition for power. We cannot consider one party system as a good option because this is not a democratic option. Any democratic system must allow at least two parties to compete in elections and provide a fair chance for the competing parties to come to power.

Ans) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram, seeks to represent and secure power for the Bahujan Samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities. It draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. It stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people. It has its main base in Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states like M.P., Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab.

Ans) The names of regional political parties 6 regional parties of 4 states of Southern India are:-

1. Puducherry – All India N.R. Congress.
2. Kerala – Kerala Congress (Mani), Indian Union Muslim League.
3. Andhra Pradesh – Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party
4. Tamil Nadu – All India Anna DMK, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Ans) Refer – Q.12, in “Long Ans Type”

Ans) National political parties are those that have an impact across the country. It does not mean that their popularity is same in all the states. Their impact and power is different in different states. The election commission has laid down the criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a National party. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in 4 states or wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

Ans) This party was launched on 1 January, 1998 under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. It was recognised as a national party in 2016. The party’s symbol is ‘flowers and grass’. Committed to secularism and federalism, this party has been in power in West Bengal since 2011. It also has a presence in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. In the general elections held in 2019, it got 4-07% votes and won 22 seats, making it the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha.

Ans) The names of regional political parties of Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha are:-

1. Jharkhand – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Party Symbol – Bow arrow.
2. Maharashtra – Shivsena. Party Symbol – Bow arrow.
3. Odisha – Biju Janta Dal (BJD). Party Symbol – ‘Conch which is turned right’.

Ans) The difference between Regional Party and National Party are:-

No.	Regional Party	National Party
1.	It deals with the issues of region.	It deals with national issues.
2.	In regional party, there is generally a dominion of one person or family.	In national parties also impact of familism is seen but it is not in all the parties.
3.	It works on regional level therefore its influence is limited to specific region.	It works in the entire country therefore it has influence all over the country.
4.	A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognised as a state party.	A party that secures atleast six per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections on Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.

Ans) This challenge of dynastic succession is related to first one. Since most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party. This is bad for democracy also, since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power. This tendency is present in some measure all over the world, including in some of the older democracies.