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A regional party is one that is restricted to a particular state, it supports the grievances of that particular state mostly. The party identifies itself with regions’ culture, language and religion. They participate in the state assembly election of that particular state only.

There are six national parties in India, namely Indian National Congress, BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, National Congress Party. Apart from these, all other parties are regional parties.

These parties are classified by the Election Commission.

These are established in a particular state only.

Example: Samajwadi Party, Samata party, Shiv Sena, etc.

In actual life, democracies do not appear to be reducing inequalities.

(i) The poor constitute a large proportion of our voters and no party likes to lose their votes, yet democratically elected governments have not addressed the question of poverty as one would have expected them to.

(ii) The people in several poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies.

Argument in support:

(i) It enhances the dignity of the individuals.

(ii) It improves the quality of decision-making.

(iii) It provides a method to resolve conflicts.

a. Political parties raise and highlight issues related to people. 

b. Sometimes they launch movements for the solution of problems faced by the people. 

c. Parties have lakhs of members and activists, spread all over the country.

The three ways in which political parties shape the public opinion: 

(i) They raise and highlight issues. 

(ii) Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are the extensions of political parties among different sections of the society. 

(iii) Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. 

• Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is the splinter or breakaway party from the Congress Party. 
• It considers the values like democracy, equality and secularism important. 
• It became part of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and came to power in Maharashtra. 
• It was in power in Maharashtra from 1999 to 2014 and at the centre from 2004 to 2014.

When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and winning power it is called an alliance or a front.

In the multi-party system, when the political parties compete with each other, there comes a situation when more than the two parties have a high chance of winning if they contest together.

The alliance provides the strength to the parties and the chance of winning increase as the different parties can bring with themselves votes of different regions. Hence the parties are compelled to form an alliance.

One party system is not considered a good option because this is not a democratic option.

Because one party system has no democratic option.

The Communist Party of India is one of the oldest party of the nation. It was formed in 1925.They rely on the principles of philosophers like Marxism and Leninism, secularism and democracy. They are against secessionism ( Separation) and Communalism. They believe that democracy could be achieved through parliamentary methods

United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

1. Must get registered with Election Commission of India

2. Must have atleast 100 members. Each member needs to hold a voting card.

3. Must write a Party Constitution.

There are many party system. There is a one-party system where only one party is allowed to run the government, like China.

Then, there is two, parties system where only two parties contest election like the USA.

Multi-party system: here several parties contest the election. Eg. India

The one-party system is not good for the country:

a. In a one-party system, people do not have the option to elect a different leader. They had to choose the same leader whether he is liked by the citizens or not.

b. There is a lack of competition which may result in non-fulfilment of promises by the single party.

(a) free symbols poll panel

Functions of the Political parties: 

1. Provide: Loyal opposition, accountability & stability. 

2. Nominate: Select and nominate individuals to elected office. 

3. Organize: Organize political campaign, rallies and announcement of Manifesto to win public office. 

4. Inspire: Put forward different policies and programmes for the welfare of the people. 

5. Co -ordinate: Connect the society and the state. Co-ordinate among members elected to office.

6. Govern: Form and run the government and develop public policy.

Any political party has three basic components

1. the leader 

2. the active members 

3. the followers

Yes political parties are necessary for a democratic country because 

1. They are the backbone of democracy. 

2. They are essential elements to form the government. 

3. Citizens can elect their representatives. 

4. Citizens also vote for the party of their choice and thus influence Government formation.

Securing the interest of the oppressed people.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Criteria for A political party to be recognised as a National Party 

1. The party that secures should atleast 6% of the valid votes in Lok sabha election or assembly elections in four states. 

2. They must win 4 seats in Lok sabha from any State/States 

3. It has to win 2% of seats in Lok sabha from atleast 3 different states in the latest general election.

The political parties have to register themselves with the Election Commission.

a. The recognized parties are given a unique symbol.

b. Recognised `State’ and `National’ parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination and are also entitled for two sets of electoral rolls free of cost and broadcast/telecast facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections.

A party that secures at least six percent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

Necessary conditions for national parties:

(i) Secure at least 6%, of total votes in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in four states.

(ii) Should win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha.

(iii) They should have influence in more than three seats.

Example : INC, BJP, CPI (M), CPI, NCP and BSP.

(c) Samata Party

(i) Cultural nationalism.

(ii) India's ancient culture and values.

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. They agree on some policies and programmers for the society with a view to promoting the collective good.

The ideology of BJP:

(i) Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

(ii) A uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion.

(iii) Cultural nationalism.

A regional party is a party that is present in only some states.

Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a regional political party are:

(i) A party that secures at least six percent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state.

(ii) Wins at least two seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. Its main aim is that seeks represent and secure power for the Bahujan Samaj which includes the dalits and adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities.

1984, Kanshi Ram.

The three challenges faced by political parties in India are:

(i) Lack of internal democracy.

(ii) Challenge of dynastic succession

(iii) Growing role of money and muscle power.

(iv) Often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters.

He or she will lose the seat in the legislature.

(i) Lack of internal democracy 

(ii) Growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during elections. 

The Indian National Congress (INC), is one of the oldest and popular parts of India.

a. It was founded in 1885 by the leaders of the national independence struggle.

b. It played an important role during the fight for independence with the British.

c. The party ruled uninterrupted since independence till 1989.

d. In 1989, it lost its popularity, due to the emergence of many other regional political parties.

e. The INC has a centrist ideology; it promotes secularism and welfare of weaker section.

BSP draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The above statement is False. 

The Election Commission of India recognises a political party as National or Regional party on the basis of specific criteria namely:

• The number of seats secured in Parliament and Legislative Assembly or percentage of votes secured. 
• Shiromani Akali Dal does not meet the criteria listed above.
• As its influence is limited to the state of Punjab and not in any other state. 
• The Election Commission has given recognition to it as regional party.

• Shiromani Akali Dal was formed in 1920. 
• It is a dominating party in Punjab. 
• It gives preference to nurture religious and for the regional pride. 
• The party has retained power in Punjab for many years.

The political parties are the face of democracy. They are the ones who regulate the nation. So for any wrongdoing in our society, the parties are ultimately blamed. They need to face this because people have given them the power to govern them. Hence they are accountable to the people for their actions.

The political parties throughout the world face several problems, the first being the lack of internal democracy within the parties:

a. The powers of the political parties are generally held with only a few people. Not every member of the party gets the chance to be the leader.

b. The parties do not conduct regular meeting with the members to get them informed of any proceedings further. This reduces the connection with the party.

c. The leaders have the greatest powers while making any decision, the rest of the members are rarely consulted, this creates the gap in ideologies.

d. The communication gap makes the members lose their loyalty towards the party.

A political party is a group of people with a similar ideology, to contest elections of a nation and form a ruling government.

A Political party is synonymous to democracy, anelection is vital for any democracy to contest elections these political parties are necessary.

They are necessary:

a. The parties frame policies and agendas that are for the welfare of the entire nation. Any policy is not just directed towards a single person, but for all.

b. They promote their ideas for the national goods during the election and when they win they work towards it.

c. They put forward programmes that are for the upliftment of backward communities.
The political parties are the face of democracy. They are the ones who regulate the nation.

Example: In a democracy, the people and their demands play a pivotal role. These demands are raised by these parties. The parties provide the people access to the government. For any common person reaching out to any local party leader is easier than the head of the country. Hence the parties are important.

The communist party of India is one of the oldest party of the nation.

a. It was formed in 1925.

b. They rely on the principles of philosophers like Marxism and Leninism, secularism and democracy.

c. They are against secessionism ( Separation) and Communalism.

d. They believe that democracy could be achieved through parliamentary methods.

e. They promote the demands of the working class, farmers and the poor.

Correct option is (c) Punjab

Communist Party of India (Marxist) was formed in 1964 with the following objectives:

• The party advocates socialism, secularism and democracy. 
• The main policy of the party is to work for the welfare of farmers, landless labourers and workers.
• The party opposes imperialism.

The above statement is True.

• The Communist Party of- India was established in 1925. The Communist Parties follow Marxist ideology. 
• In 1962, due to differences in the leadership a rift was created in the party. 
• The main reason for the split was about which political line to follow.

Correct option is (b) seven

Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties---Parties that are present in only one of the federal units and parties that are present in several or all units of the federation.

Those parties which are countrywide parties are called national parties.

National and State Parties:

(i) A party that secures at least six percent of the total in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state Party.

(ii) A party that secures at least six percent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party.

Challenge of dynastic succession.

Correct option is (b) Marxist

'Bharatiya Janata Party' (BJP) gets inspiration {rom India's ancient culture and values.

Four important features:

(i) Cultural nationalism or 'Hindutva' is an important element in its conception of Indian nationhood and politics.

(ii) The party wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

(iii) A uniform civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion and ban on religious conversions.

(iv) Its support base increased substantially in the 1990s.a

(a) More than 750 parties

More than 750