CBSE Class 10 Social Science Democratic Politics – II: Political Parties NCERT Solutions

Political parties play a multifaceted role in a democracy. Their key functions include:

• Contesting Elections: They bring together a large number of people with similar opinions and provide voters with a choice between different policies and candidates. The winning party forms the government.
• Forming and Running Government: The party or coalition that wins the majority of seats in an election forms the government and is responsible for its administration.
• Acting as Opposition: Parties that do not win a majority form the opposition. They play a crucial role in keeping a check on the government's functioning, holding it accountable, and voicing alternative perspectives.
• Making Laws: Political parties significantly influence the law-making process, especially through debates and discussions held within the legislature.
• Shaping Public Opinion: Parties raise awareness about various issues, highlight societal problems, and mobilize public support for their agendas, thereby shaping public discourse.
• Providing Access to Government: They act as intermediaries, helping citizens access government machinery, understand policies, and benefit from welfare schemes.

Political parties face several significant challenges in contemporary democracies:

• Lack of Internal Democracy: Power within parties is often concentrated in the hands of a few top leaders. This can lead to positions being dominated by the relatives of leaders (dynastic succession) or individuals closely associated with them, rather than being based on merit or popular support within the party.
• Increased Dependence on Money and Muscle Power: The growing reliance on financial resources and coercive tactics can compromise the integrity of parties. This dependence may lead to party policies and decisions being unduly influenced by wealthy donors or powerful groups who provide these resources.
• Failure to Provide Meaningful Choice: In many parts of the world, the fundamental ideological differences between major political parties have diminished. This can result in voters feeling that there isn't a substantial difference between the options presented, making it difficult to make a truly informed choice.

To strengthen political parties and enhance their ability to perform their functions effectively, several reforms can be implemented:

• Regulation of Internal Affairs: A law should be established to govern the internal functioning of political parties. This would promote greater transparency and accountability in their decision-making processes and organizational structure.
• Promoting Women's Representation: To ensure better representation of women, it is suggested that political parties should be mandated to give at least one-third of the tickets for contesting elections to women candidates.
• State Funding of Election Campaigns: The government could provide funding for election campaigns. This would reduce the dependence of parties on donations from lobbying groups and wealthy individuals, thereby mitigating unfair competition and the influence of vested interests.

A political party is essentially a group of people who are united by a common ideology or a set of beliefs. They come together with the primary aim of contesting elections and, if successful, holding political power in the government to implement their shared vision and policies.

The essential characteristics that define a political party are:

• Central Ideology: A political party is built around a core ideology or a set of principles that articulate its stance on various issues and define what it stands for in the political landscape.
• Policies and Promises: Based on its ideology, the party formulates specific policies and makes promises to the electorate. These are the actions the party commits to undertake if it is voted into power.
• Organization: A political party comprises a structured organization that includes leaders who guide the party, party workers who carry out its activities, and a base of supporters who believe in its ideology and policies.