NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Civics Chapter 4 Political Parties

a) Every candidate in election will be independent.
b) Cannot make promises to the people about any major policy changes.
c) Even if formed – its utility will remain uncertain.
d) Will be accountable to their constituency – no one will be responsible as to how the country run.

The challenges to political parties are as follows:
Lack of internal democracy within parties
Dynastic succession- an ordinary worker may rise in top in a party people who do not have adequate experience or support came to power – with various close people.
Money and muscle power – Rich people and companies influence on party decisions.
Do not offer meaningful choice to the voters – leaders shift from one party to another.
Not much difference in their policies.

More than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others.
This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.
In India we have multi-party system and the coalition govt. for last 15 years which benefits all sections of the population.

Ordinary citizens can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitations.
Pressure groups and movements and the media can play an important role in it.
Educated people should join the political parties because the quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation.
It is difficult to reform politics without taking part in it and simply criticizing it from outside.

Functions performed by political parties in a democracy: Group together a large number of similar opinions, thereby providing a direction in which policies can be formulated. Contest elections, providing the voters a choice between different policies. Winning party forms and runs the government. Losing parties form the opposition, and keep a check on the working of the government. Play a decisive role in making laws, especially by debating them in the legislature. Shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues. Provide people a way to access government machinery and welfare schemes.

Some reforms which could strengthen political parties are: A law should be established to regulate the internal affairs of parties, thereby making them more transparent. Women should be given at least one-third tickets. The state should fund election campaigns, thereby eliminating lobbying groups and unfair competition.

Various challenges faced by political parties: Lack of internal democracy: This is caused by the concentration of power in the hands of a few leaders. As a result, positions at the top are reserved for the leaders’ relatives (dynastic succession) or people close to them. Increased dependence on money and muscle power: This causes the party policies to be moulded by groups which supply these to the party. Failure to provide a meaningful choice to the voters: This is because of the decline in fundamental, ideological differences among parties in most parts of the world.

A political party is a group of people who follow an ideology and thus come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a political party.

Characteristics of a political party are: The presence of a central ideology which defines what it stands for. Policies arising from this ideology; the party promises to implement these if it is voted to power. The presence of a leader, the party workers and supporters.