Political Parties

Political Parties

Political Parties is the heaviest Political Science chapter: 5 marks in the 2026-27 sample paper, 6 in February 2026 and 4 in May 2026. It gave an MCQ in every recent paper (internal democracy, national and State parties, the affidavit order, the parts of a party), the case study in the sample paper, the 5-marker in February 2026 and a 3-marker in May 2026 and 2025. The multi-party system came up in three of the four papers.

Marks are most often lost by stating only one of the two conditions for recognising a party, by calling a party 'national' because it has many seats in one State, by mixing up steps already taken with reforms only suggested, and by listing functions of parties without linking them to the situation in the question.

Revise in 5 Minutes

What a party is

• A group that comes together to contest elections and hold power on shared policies. It stands for one part of society, so it is partisan. Parts: leaders, active members, followers.

Functions: contest elections; offer policies; make laws (members follow the party line); form and run governments; act as the opposition; shape opinion; link people to government and welfare schemes.

Why needed: a large representative democracy needs a way to gather views, form a responsible government and support or check it.

Party systems

• A party system grows out of a society's divisions, history and elections; it cannot be chosen. India is multi-party because its social and regional diversity is too great for two or three parties.
• Multi-party: can be unstable, but gives many interests a voice. Alliance/front: parties join hands to contest and win.

Recognition: every party registers; recognised parties get a reserved symbol.

State parties need not be regional in outlook, and they have become partners in coalitions at the Centre.

Challenges: no internal democracy; dynastic succession; money and muscle power; no meaningful choice.

Reform: in place: the anti-defection law, affidavits (not checked), the EC order on internal elections (often a formality). Suggested: a law on parties' internal affairs, one-third of tickets to women, state funding.

Traps

• Recognition needs both votes AND seats.
• Many seats in one State do not make a party national.
• Two-party does not mean other parties are banned.
• State funding and one-third tickets for women are suggestions, not law.

How to use this page: try each question on paper first, then read the answer. The marks against each step show what an examiner looks for. The 1-mark MCQs and Assertion-Reason questions are in the quiz at the end, together with questions that test how well you understand the chapter; every quiz answer comes with its explanation.

Short Answer Questions (2 and 3 Marks)

Question 1 (2 marks)

Distinguish between a national party and a State party on the basis of the conditions for recognition given in your textbook.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. State party: at least 6% of votes and 2 seats in a State Assembly election.
2. National party: at least 6% of votes in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in four States, and at least 4 Lok Sabha seats.

Marking scheme:

1. State party: secures at least 6 per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least 2 seats. — 1 mark
2. National party: secures at least 6 per cent of the total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha. — 1 mark

Question 2 (3 marks)

Floods hit the imaginary district of Ramgarh. Relief is slow, and many families are left without help. Explain three ways in which political parties, in power or in opposition, might act in this situation, naming the function of parties that each one shows.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Opposition: MLAs of the losing parties raise the slow relief in the Assembly and criticise the government.
2. Shaping public opinion: party workers hold meetings and protests so the issue gets attention.
3. Access to government: local party workers help families fill forms and reach officials for compensation.

Marking scheme:

1. Opposition: MLAs of the losing parties raise the slow relief in the Assembly and criticise the government for its failure. — 1 mark
2. Shaping public opinion: party workers hold meetings, highlight the problem and may launch a movement demanding relief. — 1 mark
3. Access to government machinery: local party workers help families fill forms and reach officials for relief and compensation. (Also accept: the ruling party's government speeds up relief, as parties form and run governments; leaders must listen or face rejection at the next election.) — 1 mark

Question 3 (2 marks)

Distinguish between a two-party system and a multi-party system, with one example of each.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Two-party: power usually passes between two main parties, though others may win a few seats; e.g. the USA or the UK.
2. Multi-party: more than two parties have a real chance of power, alone or in alliance; e.g. India.

Marking scheme:

1. Two-party system: power usually changes between two main parties; other parties may win a few seats, but only these two have a serious chance of a majority; e.g. the USA or the UK. — 1 mark
2. Multi-party system: several parties compete, and more than two have a reasonable chance of coming to power, alone or in alliance; e.g. India. — 1 mark

Question 4 (3 marks)

Ayesha, an exchange student from the USA, argues that India would be more stable if it had just two main parties, as her country does. Give one point on which she is right and two on which she is wrong.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Right: with two parties, one usually wins a majority alone, so governments need not depend on many partners.
2. Wrong: India is too diverse in religion, language, caste and region for two parties to speak for all.
3. Wrong: a party system cannot be picked; it grows out of a country's divisions and history.

Marking scheme:

1. Right: with two main parties, one of them usually wins a majority alone, so the government does not depend on many partners; a multi-party system can look messy and unstable. — 1 mark
2. Wrong: India's social and geographical diversity of religions, languages, castes and regions is too great for two parties to speak for; many groups and regions would lose their voice. — 1 mark
3. Wrong: a party system cannot simply be chosen; it grows over a long time out of a society's divisions, history and election system. (Also accept: stability is not the only value; representation of many interests also matters.) — 1 mark

Question 5 (2 marks)

Why did political parties become necessary as representative democracies grew in large societies? Give two reasons.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Someone must back the government or check it, and argue for or against its policies.
2. In a big country, people's many views must be carried to the government, and members grouped to form one.

Marking scheme:

1. Someone has to back the government or keep a check on it, and argue for or against its policies in an organised way; parties do this. — 1 mark
2. In a big country, the views of millions have to be collected and carried to the government, and hundreds of elected members have to be grouped before any government can be formed. — 1 mark

Question 6 (3 marks)

In the imaginary Jan Seva Party, Meera Devi is the party president; Harish attends every meeting, collects funds and campaigns from door to door; and Salim has voted for the party in every election but takes no other part in its work. Name the three components of a political party seen here and explain the part each one plays.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Leaders: Meera Devi heads the party and takes its main decisions.
2. Active members: Harish does the party's work among people: meetings, funds and campaigning.
3. Followers: Salim supports the party with his vote but takes no other part.

Marking scheme:

1. Leaders (Meera Devi): they head the party and take its main decisions. — 1 mark
2. Active members (Harish): they do the party's work among the people, such as organising, raising funds and campaigning. — 1 mark
3. Followers (Salim): they support the party, mainly by voting for it. — 1 mark

Question 7 (3 marks)

Suppose a new law in the imaginary State of Nirvachanpur bans political parties, so that all 150 members of its Assembly are elected as independents. Explain three problems the State is likely to face.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. At least 76 members would have to be won over one by one, so a government could fall any day.
2. Voters could judge members only on local work; no one would answer for the State as a whole.
3. No organised opposition would question the government or campaign on State-wide issues.

Marking scheme:

1. Forming a government becomes a daily bargain: at least 76 members must be won over one by one, and the government could fall at any time. — 1 mark
2. Voters can judge each member only on local work; nobody stands for a plan for the whole State or can be held to account if the State is badly run. — 1 mark
3. There is no organised opposition to question the government, and no body to collect people's views and campaign on State-wide issues. (Also accept: every law needs a fresh majority to be put together.) — 1 mark

Question 8 (2 marks)

Every party in India has to register with the Election Commission, but only some parties are 'recognised'. Explain the difference and state what recognition gives a party.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Every party must register, but only parties that win enough votes and seats are recognised.
2. A recognised party gets a unique symbol for its official candidates, and some other special facilities.

Marking scheme:

1. Registration is required of every party; recognition is given only to large, established parties that win the share of votes and seats laid down by the Commission. — 1 mark
2. A recognised party gets a unique election symbol that only its official candidates can use, and some other special facilities. — 1 mark

Question 9 (2 marks)

Why is a political party described as 'partisan'? Is this always a weakness? Give two points.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. A party stands for one part of society and its policies, so it takes sides on issues.
2. Not always: it gives voters clear choices, and is a weakness only when a party ignores all other views.

Marking scheme:

1. A party is a part of society and stands for some sections and policies, so it takes a side on issues; partisanship is this tendency to take a side, often without a balanced view. — 1 mark
2. Not always: taking sides reflects real divisions in society and gives voters clear choices; it becomes a weakness when a party cannot see any other point of view. (Accept any reasoned view.) — 1 mark

Question 10 (3 marks)

Explain three ways in which political parties form and run governments.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. The party or alliance that wins a majority forms the government.
2. Big policy decisions are taken by the political executive, which comes from the parties and follows the ruling party's programme.
3. Parties recruit and train leaders and then make them ministers to run the government their way.

Marking scheme:

1. The party, or alliance, that wins a majority in the legislature forms the government. — 1 mark
2. Big policy decisions are taken by the political executive, which comes from the parties, and the government follows the ruling party's programme. — 1 mark
3. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government the way they want. — 1 mark

Long Answer and Case-Based Questions

Question 11 (5 marks)

A group of young people in the imaginary State of Navpur is starting a new political party. They want to avoid the problems voters most often complain about in parties. Suggest five ways in which they could run their party, linking each one to a challenge that parties face.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Internal democracy: keep a register of members, hold regular meetings and internal elections, and let members who disagree be heard.
2. Dynastic succession: fill top posts through open elections, so leadership does not stay within one family.
3. Money and muscle power: refuse tickets to people facing criminal cases, do not pick candidates just because they are rich, and keep the accounts open.
4. Meaningful choice: offer clear policies that really differ from other parties, so voters get a real alternative.
5. Fair handling of disputes: set up an independent authority inside the party, so leaders cannot simply push out critics.

Marking scheme:

1. Lack of internal democracy: keep a register of members, hold regular meetings and internal elections, and let members who disagree be heard. — 1 mark
2. Dynastic succession: fill top posts through open and transparent elections, so that leadership does not pass within one family. — 1 mark
3. Money and muscle power: refuse tickets to people facing criminal cases and do not choose candidates only because they are rich; keep the party's accounts open. — 1 mark
4. Lack of a meaningful choice: offer clear policies that are really different from those of other parties, so that voters get a real alternative. — 1 mark
5. Lack of internal democracy (disputes): set up an independent authority inside the party to settle disputes, so that leaders cannot simply push out critics. (Accept any other sensible safeguard linked to a challenge.) — 1 mark

OR

Besides the laws already made, an order has been passed and several suggestions have been made for reforming political parties. Explain the Election Commission's order and its limit, and four suggestions or other ways of reforming parties.

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Election Commission's order: parties must hold organisational elections and file tax returns, but this is often a mere formality.
2. A law on internal affairs (suggested): member registers, following the party constitution, an independent authority for disputes and open elections to top posts.
3. Women (suggested): about one-third of tickets, and of posts in decision-making bodies, for women.
4. State funding (suggested): the government would meet election expenses, in kind or in cash by votes won.
5. Pressure and participation: citizens and the media can press parties through petitions and protests, and reformers can join parties.

Marking scheme:

1. Election Commission's order: parties must hold organisational elections and file income tax returns; they do so, but sometimes only as a formality. — 1 mark
2. Suggestion: a law to regulate the internal affairs of parties, making them keep a register of members, follow their own constitution, have an independent authority to settle disputes and hold open elections to the highest posts. — 1 mark
3. Suggestion: parties should give about one-third of their tickets to women, and women should have a similar share in the party's decision-making bodies. — 1 mark
4. Suggestion: state funding of elections, with the government giving parties money, or things such as petrol, paper and telephones, for their election expenses (money could be given by votes won in the last election). — 1 mark
5. Other ways: citizens, pressure groups, movements and the media can press parties through petitions, publicity and agitations, and people who want reform can join parties and change them from inside. — 1 mark

Question 12 (5 marks)

Study the hypothetical results of a Lok Sabha election given below and answer the questions that follow. Use the condition for a national party given in your textbook: at least 6% of the votes in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in four States AND at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha. (All figures are hypothetical; 543 seats in all, 272 needed for a majority.)

(a) Which of the parties P, Q, R and S meet the criterion for a national party? Explain why R and S do not. (2 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. P and Q, since each got at least 6% of the votes in four or more States and won at least 4 seats.
2. R has 38 seats but crossed 6% in only one State; S crossed 6% in six States but won only 3 seats.

Marking scheme:

1. P and Q: each got at least 6 per cent of the votes in four or more States and won at least 4 Lok Sabha seats. — 1 mark
2. R won 38 seats but crossed 6 per cent in only one State (not four); S crossed 6 per cent in six States but won only 3 seats (fewer than 4). — 1 mark

(b) No party has won a majority. Explain three ways in which this result is likely to shape the new government and the role of parties like R and T. (3 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. P has only 180 of the 272 seats needed, so it must build an alliance with other parties to form a government.
2. Parties like R and T, strong in one or two States, become coalition partners and share power at the Centre.
3. The partners must agree on a common programme, so policies become a give-and-take among them.

Marking scheme:

1. The largest party, P, has only 180 of the 272 seats needed, so it must form an alliance or coalition with other parties to form a government. — 1 mark
2. Parties strong in one or two States, such as R and T, become partners in the coalition and get a share of power at the national level. — 1 mark
3. The partners have to agree on a common programme, so the government's policies become a give-and-take between P and parties like R and T. (Also accept: the government may be less stable; the concerns of States get heard at the Centre.) — 1 mark

OR

Study the same table of hypothetical results and answer the following.

(a) Compare this result with a one-party system such as China's. Explain two ways in which voters in this country have more power. (2 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Voters here can choose among many parties; in China only one party may rule.
2. They can vote the government out, and opposition parties can question it.

Marking scheme:

1. Voters can choose among several parties with different policies; in a one-party system only one party may rule, and there is no free competition for power. — 1 mark
2. If voters are unhappy, they can vote the ruling party out and another party or alliance can come to power; opposition parties can question the government in between. — 1 mark

(b) Party R won all its 38 seats in one State, and a newspaper calls it a 'regional party'. Explain three points about State parties which show why this label can mislead. (3 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. 'State party' only tells us the level at which a party is recognised, from its votes and seats in a State, not its ideas.
2. Such a party need not be regional in outlook; some are all-India parties that happen to succeed only in some States.
3. Some have units in several States, though others care mainly about their State's identity, so each must be judged by its own outlook.

Marking scheme:

1. 'State party' only describes the level at which a party is recognised, based on its votes and seats in a State; it says nothing about its ideas. — 1 mark
2. Such parties need not be regional in ideology or outlook; some are all-India parties that happen to succeed only in some States. — 1 mark
3. Some have a national-level organisation with units in several States, though others are very conscious of their State identity; so each party must be judged by its own outlook. — 1 mark

Question 13 (4 marks)

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.

Election Day at the Jan Morcha Office

The State unit of the Jan Morcha, a party in the imaginary State of Surajgarh, announced that it would elect a new State president in March. The notice said the vote was being held because the party had to report its organisational elections.

When members reached the party office, they found only one nomination on the board: the name suggested by the party chief. No list of voters had been put up, and nobody could say how many members the party really had. Three district workers who asked for the vote to be put off until a members' list was ready were suspended the same evening.

Since then, a few young members have collected signatures on a letter to the party chief and taken their story to a local newspaper. One of them, Farida, says she will not leave the party. She plans to stand in its next internal election herself.

(a) Give one sign from the passage that the vote was not a real contest. (1 mark)

Answer.

Model answer:

Only one name, the one suggested by the party chief, was on the board.

Marking scheme:

1. Any one: only one nomination was on the board; no list of voters was put up; nobody knew how many members the party had. — 1 mark

(b) Which challenge to political parties does the suspension of the three workers show? (1 mark)

Answer.

Model answer:

Lack of internal democracy: members who question the leader are pushed out.

Marking scheme:

1. Lack of internal democracy: power rests with the leader at the top, and members who disagree find it hard to stay. — 1 mark

(c) Explain two ways in which such a lack of internal democracy harms the ordinary members of a party. (2 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. Members get little information and no say in decisions.
2. Loyalty to the leader counts for more than work, so critics are pushed out and ordinary workers rarely rise.

Marking scheme:

1. Without a members' list, meetings or open elections, members get little information and have no means to influence the party's decisions. — 1 mark
2. Loyalty to the leader counts for more than work or ideas, so critics are pushed out and ordinary workers can hardly rise to the top. — 1 mark

Question 14 (4 marks)

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.

From an MLA's Diary

These are pages from the diary of Rekha, a first-time MLA in the imaginary State of Sitapur.

Tuesday. The Farm Produce Bill came up today. I had doubts about one clause, and so did two others from our side. But the party had decided its line, and all of us voted for the bill. I kept thinking of the farmers in my constituency who wanted that clause changed.

Wednesday. Met a school group visiting the Assembly. A girl asked why there are only a few parties when people have lakhs of different opinions. I told her that each party brings together people with similar views on the big questions, so that voters get a few clear choices instead of a thousand small ones. Our government's policies follow the programme our party put before the voters.

Thursday. A journalist asked me whether MLAs are just 'rubber stamps'. I am still thinking about my answer.

(a) Why did Rekha vote for the bill even though she had doubts about it? (1 mark)

Answer.

Model answer:

Because, like most legislators, she belongs to a party and follows the line decided by its leadership.

Marking scheme:

1. Most members of a legislature belong to a party and go by the direction of the party leadership, whatever their personal opinions. — 1 mark

(b) Which function of political parties does Rekha explain to the school group? (1 mark)

Answer.

Model answer:

Putting forward policies and programmes, so that many opinions become a few clear choices.

Marking scheme:

1. Parties put forward different policies and programmes, bringing many similar opinions together into a few basic positions for voters to choose from. — 1 mark

(c) Is it good for democracy that MLAs usually vote as their party decides? Give one argument for and one against. (2 marks)

Answer.

Model answer:

1. For: voters chose the party's programme, so voting together keeps its promises and makes clear who is responsible.
2. Against: Rekha's own view and her farmers' wishes were ignored, and dissent becomes hard.

Marking scheme:

1. For: voters chose the party's programme, so voting together keeps its promises, gives a stable government and makes it clear who is responsible for decisions. — 1 mark
2. Against: the MLA's own judgement and the wishes of her constituents can be ignored, and dissent inside the party becomes difficult. — 1 mark