Meaning of Political Party
- A voluntary group of individuals sharing common ideologies.
- Aim: To gain political power constitutionally and promote national interest.
Types of Political Parties (Globally & in India)
- National Parties – Operate across India (e.g., BJP, INC).
- Regional/State Parties – Operate in specific states (e.g., DMK, BJD).
- Ideological Parties – Based on specific doctrines (e.g., CPI, CPM).
- Single-Issue Parties – Focused on specific causes (e.g., anti-corruption).
Types of Party Systems (Globally)
- Single-Party System – One dominant party (e.g., China).
- Bi-Party System – Two major parties (e.g., USA).
- Multi-Party System – Multiple parties (e.g., India).
Features of Indian Party System
Multi-Party System
- Due to:
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- Large size and diversity
- Universal adult franchise
- Federalism and social pluralism
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- Present status:
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- 6 National Parties, 58 State Parties, 2764 Registered Unrecognised Parties
One-Dominant Party System
- Coined by Rajni Kothari as “Congress System”.
- Congress Dominance till 1967; weakened post-1967.
- Emergence of Janata Party (1977), Janata Dal (1989), and BJP (1991).
- India shifted to a competitive multi-party system.
Structural and Ideological Challenges
Lack of Ideology
- Only few parties (BJP, CPI, CPM) have strong ideological bases.
- Most parties function on issue-based or populist agendas.
- Shift from ideological to pragmatic and opportunistic politics.
Organizational Weakness
- Most parties lack strong internal structure or regional presence.
Personality Cult
- Charisma > Ideology in many parties.
- National examples: Nehru, Indira, Rajiv Gandhi, Narendra Modi
- State examples:
- MGR (AIADMK)
- NTR (TDP)
- Biju Patnaik (BJD)
- Bal Thackeray (Shiv Sena)
- Quote: “India has more political personalities than political parties.”
Traditional Factors in Party Formation
- Many parties are based on:
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- Religion (e.g., Akali Dal, Muslim League)
- Caste (e.g., BSP)
- Language/Culture (e.g., Gorkha League)
- Leads to sectarianism and vote-bank politics.
Emergence of Regional Parties
- Strong emergence post-1967 elections.
- Now influence national politics via coalitions.
- Example: TDP became main opposition in 1984 Lok Sabha.
Factionalism and Defections
- Defections, splits, and mergers due to lust for power.
- Example: Two TDPs, DMKs, Congresses, CPI/CPI(M), etc.
- Has led to political instability and weak party cohesion.
Weak Opposition
- Lack of unity among opposition parties.
- Minimal constructive role in governance or parliamentary debates.
- Often fail to support nation-building initiatives effectively.
Conclusion
- Indian party system has evolved from Congress dominance to a multi-party competitive democracy.
- However, challenges like lack of ideology, personality cults, regionalism, and weak opposition persist.
- Reforms are essential to strengthen democratic accountability and political maturity.