Question

Describe the main challenges before political parties in India.

Hint:

Organise the answer around four challenges, lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, money and muscle power, and the absence of a meaningful choice for voters.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Political parties are necessary for democracy, but they can only serve it well if they are themselves run in a democratic and honest way.
• Four weaknesses are commonly identified in the working of parties in India.

Step 1: Lack of internal democracy.
Power inside most parties is concentrated in the hands of one or a few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep updated membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings regularly and do not conduct internal elections.
Ordinary members have no way to influence decisions, so those who disagree either give in or leave and start another party.

Step 2: Dynastic succession.
Because internal decision making is closed, leaders at the top favour people close to them, often their own family members. In many parties the top positions are controlled by members of one family.
This is unfair to other members and bad for democracy, since people without experience or support can come to occupy high office.

Step 3: Growing role of money and muscle power.
Since parties are focused on winning elections, they tend to use short cuts. Rich people and companies that give money to parties gain influence over their policies and decisions.
In some cases parties support candidates who can win by any means, including those with a criminal background.

Step 4: Parties often fail to offer a meaningful choice.
A democracy needs a real choice, but the ideological differences among parties have narrowed in many countries. In India too the difference between the economic policies of the major parties has become very small.
Those who wish for a really different set of policies often have no option available to them.

Step 5: Why these challenges matter.
Each of these weaknesses reduces the ability of parties to represent the people. Reform measures such as regulating internal affairs, curbing the role of money and encouraging women and ordinary members have therefore been suggested.

Final Answer: The main challenges are the absence of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and the failure of parties to offer voters a meaningful choice between different policies.