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How can Political Parties be reformed?

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A political party is a group of people who band together to seek office and take over government power. Every political party has ideas and programs that serve society as a whole. They strive to convince people that their policies are superior to those of others. They want to put their policies into effect by garnering public support in elections. 

Political parties are a reflection of a society’s basic political divides. All of the parties support a particular segment of society, which leads to cooperation. The constituency a party represents, the policies it supports, and the interests it defends define it.

Reforms-of-Political-Parties-

Reforms of Political Parties

Elements of Political Parties

Three elements make up a political party.

  • Those in charge of making decisions
  • Participants who are actively participating
  • Those who believe

How can Parties be reformed?

Political parties must be transformed in order to meet the problems. Some of our country’s recent efforts and ideas to reform political parties include:

  1. Anti-defection legislation: MLAs or MPs are prohibited from switching parties after an election under this rule. Any MLA or MP who switches parties will lose his or her seat in the Legislature. This was done because many elected politicians were defections for the purpose of becoming ministers or receiving monetary rewards. 
  2. Details of Property and Criminal Cases: In order to reduce the influence of money and criminals, our country’s Supreme Court issued an order requiring every candidate running for office to file an affidavit detailing his property and criminal cases pending against him. However, there is no system in place to verify whether the information provided by the candidate is accurate or not. 
  3. Filing an Income Tax Return: The Election Commission issued an order requiring political parties to undertake organizational elections as well as file income tax returns. The parties have begun to do so, but it is sometimes only a formality.

Recommendation on Reforming Political Parties

Many other recommendations for reforming political parties are frequently presented below these suggestions, including:

  • The internal affairs of political parties should be regulated by law. Political parties should be required to keep a membership list, obey their own constitution, have an independent authority, function as a judge in party disputes, and organize open elections for the top positions.
  • Political parties should be required to allocate a minimum number of tickets (about one-third) to female candidates. Similarly, a quota for women in the party’s decision-making structures should be established. 
  • Elections for state funding should be held. The government should provide funds to political parties to help with election expenses.
  • Legal remedies to political concerns must be approached with caution. Political party overregulation can be counterproductive.

People can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity, and agitations, among other things. If a political party believes it will lose public support, it will take reforms more seriously. If those who want to enhance political parties join them, they can. Public participation can help to improve the quality of democracy. It is impossible to alter politics if ordinary folks do not participate in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. What does it mean to defect from a democracy? Explain.

Answer-

Defection is a political phenomenon in democracy. It refers to the transfer of a person from one party to another for personal gain. It occurs when a lawmaker, after being elected from one party, departs that party and joins another. The Anti-Defection Law was enacted to keep elected MLAs and MPs from switching parties and losing their seats in the assembly. The new law has reduced the percentage of defections while also making dissent more difficult.

Q 2. Is it true that voters do not have a real choice? Discuss.

Answer-

True, voters are often denied real choices because political parties do not provide them. Parties must be notably distinct from one another in order to offer real choice. In most regions of the world, ideological distinctions between parties have decreased in recent years. In our country, the economic policy gaps between all of the major parties have narrowed. Those who truly desire different policies are left with no choice. People can’t always elect extremely different leaders since the same collection of leaders keeps shifting from one political party to the next.

Q 3. In what ways do money and muscle power influence elections? Explain.

Answer-

Elections are influenced by money and muscle power in the following ways:

  • Money and muscular power are increasingly important in political parties, particularly during elections. Parties are more likely to nominate candidates who have or can generate funds.
  • Rich people and companies who donate money to political parties tend to have a say in the party’s policies and choices.
  • Parties may promote criminals who, due to their power, can win elections.

Last Updated : 16 Aug, 2023
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