Political Parties

What is the history of political parties in India?

India is a diverse nation. We are a country that comes with several lineages, and our history is second to none. There are many inspiring true tales about kings and queens who were warriors and fought gallantly.

It was only a matter of time before we saw the formation of the political parties in the country. Few notable individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose, and B. R. Ambedkar gave a new meaning to the Indian political system.

The Indian political system was established during British rule in the early 1920s-30s. Our freedom fighters decided to take it up themselves and free the country from the shackles of the British Raj.

This movement gave birth to the rise of political parties in India. Though Mahatma Gandhi is known as the Father of the Nation, B. R. Ambedkar gave direction to our country and is rightfully called the Father of Modern India.

B. R. Ambedkar helped form the constitution of India. We also have Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the Father of modern India, and Potti Sreeramulu, the Father of Linguistic Democracy. These individuals have played a significant role in the political system in India.

Did you know the first citizen of our country is the President of India? He is the head of the state of India. The President of India also is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. India is the only country in the entire world where the Prime Minister has more power than the President.

What are the main characteristics of political parties?

A political party is formed on the basis of ideology designed by their founding fathers. They are an organization that wants to implement these ideologies and do good for the welfare of people. Besides, they compete in the country’s, state, and municipal elections.

A political party consists of a leader, their active members, and their followers. The main characteristics of a political party are as follows:

• The members of the party agree to work on similar principles
• The party works for the benefit of the local citizens
• They want to implement policies that enable the citizens to vote for them in power
• The leader, worker, and supporters are present during times of need

What is the need for a political party in India?

As we read, any political party, for that matter, has its own duties and responsibilities to do for society. They are the pillars of any democratic country and are elected by the citizens of that country.

When they want to be elected, they need to work for the benefit of society. They should be willing to serve people. The political parties reflect on the fundamental divisions that constantly happen in the community.

The main function of a political party is to do the following:

• Contest the election
• Bring new policies and programmes
• Start new laws
• The party that has won the election forms the ruling party
• They share the opinions of the public

No democratic country in the world can survive without a political party. Their roles and duties are paramount for the smooth functioning of a nation. The elected representatives are mainly responsible for ensuring that the needs of their people are met.

A political party in a democratic can form the party and abide by the country’s laws. They do not have any limitations. China has a one-party system, which may not suit any democratic country.

The United States of America has a two-party system, and so does the United Kingdom. However, India has several parties that can be a good thing in one way for a multicultural and diverse nation like ours.
What are different national parties in India?

Some of the different national parties in India are given below in their alphabetical order:

• All India Trinamool Congress
• Bahujan Samaj Party
• Bharatiya Janata Party
• Communist Party of India
• Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Indian National Congress
• Nationalist Congress Party

Which political party is the most popular in India and why?

India’s ruling party currently tends to gather momentum and is often the most popular party in the country. Today, the BJP party of the Bharatiya Janata Party is the most popular party in India.

It was founded in 1980 by A. B. Vajpayee and L. K. Advani. The party contested in their first general election in 1984. During that year, they only won 2 Lok Sabha seats. However, in 1996, they became the largest party in the Lok Sabha.

They formed a government, which was short-lived during that time. Today, they are the largest party in the Lok Sabha. The BJP party has managed to thwart the INC or Congress Party for the last 8 years. They have won elections in most states and local body elections.