Made by keshav pareek

What are political parties?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 programmes for a society with a view to promote collective good.

A political party has three main components-

• The leaders• The active members and• The supporters.

Why do we need political parties?

We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation where political parties doesn’t exist. Every candidate in the elections will be independent , so no candidate will be able to make any promises to the people about any major changes. The government may be formed but its utility will remain ever uncertain. Elected representatives will be accountable to their consistuency only. No one will be responsible for how the country will be run

Functions of the political partiesParties contest elections.

Parties form and run governments in country.

Parties put different policies and programmes.

Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.

Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power.

Parties shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues.

Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented.

Types of political partiesThere are two types of political parties –

1.National parties – A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in lok sabha elections or assembly elections in four states and win at least 4 seats in lok sabha is recognized as a national party.

2.State / Regional parties – A party that secures atleast 6% of the of the total votes in state legislative assembly elections and wins at least 2 seats is recognized as state party.

MAJOR NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES

S.N. Symbol Name Acron

ym Year Party leader

1. Bahujan Samaj Party BSP 1984 Mayawati

2. Bharatiya Janata Party BJP 1980 AMIT SAH

3. Communist Party of India CPI 1925 A.B. Bardhan

4. Communist Party of India (Marxist CPI (M) 1964 Prakash

Karat

5. Indian National Congress INC 1885 Sonia Gandhi

6. Nationalist Congress Party NCP 1999 Sharad

Pawar

Multi-party system

In this system, the government is formed by various parties coming together in a coalition.

For example, in India there were three such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections– the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front.

FLAGS

SYMBOLS

BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY (BJP)

The BJP is the current form of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS, Indian People's Union), which was founded in October 21, 1951 by Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Believes in Indian Nationalism (Hindu Nationalism),Integral humanism, Economic liberalism, Gandhian Socialism, Conservatism, Social conservatism.

Came to power in 1998 as the leader of national democratic alliance.

Earlier limited to the northern and western parts of the country.

The Ruler party in lok sabha.The party's political symbol is a lotus

Chairperson AMIT SAH Leader in Lok Sabha NARENDRA MODI Leader in Rajya Sabha Arun JaitleyPreceded by Bharatiya Jana SanghHeadquarters 11 Ashoka Road,New Delhi, 110001Newspaper Kamal SandeshYouth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva MorchaWomen's wing BJP Mahila MorchaLabour wing Bharatiya Mazdoor SanghPeasant's wing Bharatiya Kisan SanghPolitical position Centre-rightOfficial colours Orange  ECI Status National PartySeats in Lok Sabha 281/545Seats in Rajya Sabha 46 / 250

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC)

One of the oldest parties of the world . Founded in 1885 by members of

the occultist movementTheosophical Society—Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Monomohun Ghose, and Mahadev Govind Ranade

It played a important role in the independence of India. It was a ruling party till 1977 after independence.A centrist party in its ideological orientation, the party

espouses secularism and welfare of weaker sections.The party's political symbol is hand

BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY (BSP)

It was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.

Stands for the cause of securing the interests and welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.

It’s main base is in Uttar Pradesh and substantial presence in neighbouring states.

The party's political symbol is an Elephant.

Chairperson MayawatiSecretary-General Satish Chandra Mishra Leader in Lok Sabha N/ALeader in Rajya Sabha Mayawati Headquarters 12, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road,New Delhi - 110001Political position CenterOfficial colours BlueECI Status National PartySeats in Lok Sabha 00 / 545Seats in Rajya Sabha 10/ 250

MAYAWATI & KANSIRAM

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (CPI)

It was formed in 1925. The founding members of the party were M.N. Roy, Evelyn Trent Roy (Roy's wife), Abani Mukherji, Rosa Fitingof(Abani's wife), Mohammad Ali (Ahmed Hasan), Mohammad Shafiq Siddiqui and M.P.B.T. Acharya.

It believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy.

Became weak after the split in the party in1964.

Has significant presence in the states of Kerala ,West Bengal ,Tripura ,Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Secretary-General S Sudhaker ReddyHeadquarters New Delhi, IndiaPolitical position Far-left

International affiliation International Conference of Communist and Workers' Parties.Official colours Red

Alliance Left FrontECI Status National Party

Communist Party ofIndia - Marxist (CPI-M):1964Believes in Marxism- Leninism. Supports socialism, secularism and

democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism.

Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura , among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia

Secretary-General Prakash KaratLeader in Lok Sabha Basudev AchariaLeader in Rajya Sabha Sitaram YechuriHeadquarters New Delhi, IndiaStudent wing Students Federation of IndiaYouth wing Democratic Youth Federation of IndiaWomen's wing All India Democratic Womens AssociationLabour wing Centre of Indian Trade UnionsPeasant's wing All India Kisan SabhaPolitical position Far-leftECI Status National PartyAlliance Left FrontSeats in Lok Sabha 9/ 545Seats in Rajya Sabha 9 / 250

Nationalist CongressParty (NCP):1999Formed in 1999 following a split in the

Congress party.Espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism,

equity, social justice and federalism.A major party in Maharashtra .

Chairperson Sharad PawarFounded 1999Headquarters 10, Bishambhar Das Marg,New Delhi, 110001Political position Centre/Centre leftOfficial colours Aqua Alliance United Progressive AllianceECI Status National PartySeats in Lok Sabha 9 / 545Seats in Rajya Sabha 7 / 250