National and State Parties in India

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

Introduction:

• A political party is a collective of individuals united by shared political ideologies, aiming to contest elections and govern by implementing their proposed policies and programs for societal welfare.
• These parties, be they national, state, or regional, are mandated to register with the Election Commission of India (ECI) if they wish to participate in local, state, or national elections.

• The recognition and status of political parties fluctuate in response to their electoral performance, determining their categorization as national, state, or regional entities.
• This dynamic framework underscores the pivotal role that political parties play in shaping the democratic process in India.

Political Parties: Meaning and Types

• Political parties are groups of individuals with similar political views who work together to gain political power through constitutional means and aim to promote national interests.

Types of Political Parties

• Reactionary Parties: Maintain old socio-economic and political institutions.
• Conservative Parties: Preserve the current status quo.
• Liberal Parties: Reform existing institutions.
• Radical Parties: Establish a new order by overthrowing current institutions.

These parties are often categorized based on their ideologies:

• Leftist Parties:
• Advocate for significant social and economic change, prioritizing workers' rights and social justice. Examples in India include CPI and CPM.
• Centrist Parties:
• Occupy the middle ground, supporting a balance between free-market economics and social welfare policies. Congress is a prominent centrist party in India.
• Rightist Parties:
• Embrace conservative ideologies, focusing on traditional values, national identity, and economic liberalism. BJP is a leading rightist party in India.

Types of Party Systems

• One-Party System: Only one ruling party exists, no opposition (e.g., former USSR, China).
• Two-Party System: Two major parties exist (e.g., USA, UK).
• Multi-Party System: Multiple parties exist, leading to coalition governments (e.g., France, Switzerland, Italy).

Party System in India

Characteristics of the Indian Party System

• Multi-Party System - Diverse and Large: India's continental size, diverse society, and universal adult franchise contribute to a large number of political parties.
• Variety of Parties: India has the largest number of political parties in the world.  
• Broad Spectrum: These parties span across all ideologies—left, centrist, right, communal, and non-communal.
• Coalition Governments: The presence of many parties often leads to hung Parliaments and assemblies, resulting in coalition governments.

Recognition of National and State Parties

• The Election Commission registers political parties for elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties based on their performance in polls.
• Other parties are declared as registered-unrecognised parties.
• Recognition determines privileges such as party symbols, time for political broadcasts, and access to electoral rolls.

Privileges of Recognized Parties

• Symbols: Exclusive symbols for national and state parties.
• Broadcasting: Time allocated on state-owned TV and radio.
• Nomination: Only one proposer needed for nomination filing.
• Campaigners: National and state parties can have 40-star campaigners; unrecognised parties can have 20.
• Travel expenses of star campaigners are not included in candidates' election expenditure.

Conditions for Recognition as a National Party

• A party is recognized as a national party if it meets any of these criteria.
• Votes and Seats: Secures 6% of valid votes in any four or more states in a general election to the Lok Sabha or legislative assembly, and wins four Lok Sabha seats.
• Lok Sabha Seats: Wins 2% of Lok Sabha seats in a general election, with candidates elected from at least three states.
• State Party Status: Recognized as a state party in four states.

List of all the National Parties in India

• There are 6 National parties, 56 recognised State parties, and 2796 registered unrecognised political parties.

• On 10th April 2023, the Election Commission of India (ECI) revoked the national party status of three former national parties- the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Communist Party of India (CPI).
• Subsequently, the ECI recognised Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party. 

Conditions for Recognition as a State Party

• A party is recognized as a state party if it meets any of these criteria.
• Votes and Assembly Seats: Secures 6% of valid votes in the state in a general election to the legislative assembly, and wins two assembly seats.
• Votes and Lok Sabha Seats: Secures 6% of valid votes in the state in a general election to the Lok Sabha, and wins one Lok Sabha seat.
• Assembly Seats: Wins 3% of seats in the legislative assembly or three assembly seats, whichever is more.
• Lok Sabha Seats: Wins one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats or fraction thereof allotted to the state in a general election to the Lok Sabha.
• Votes: Secures 8% of total valid votes in the state in a general election to the Lok Sabha or legislative assembly (added in 2011).

Role of Regional Parties in India

Features of Regional Parties

• Operational Scope: Generally, operate within a specific state or region.
• Regional Identity: Articulate regional interests and identify with specific cultural, religious, linguistic, or ethnic groups.
• Local Focus: Concerned with local issues and demands, often related to language, caste, community, or region.
• State-Level Power: Aim to capture political power at the state level without seeking to control the central government.
• Regional Autonomy: Desire greater autonomy for states within the Indian Union.

Classification of Regional Parties

• Cultural/Ethnic Based: Parties based on regional culture or ethnicity, e.g., Shiromani Akali Dal, National Conference, DMK.
• All-India Outlook: Parties with a national outlook but limited electoral base, e.g., Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party.
• Splinter Groups: Parties formed by splits in national parties, e.g., Biju Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress.
• Personalised Parties: Formed by individual leaders based on their charisma, e.g., Lok Jan shakti Party, Himachal Vikas Congress.

Rise of Regional Parties

• Factors contributing to the emergence of regional parties include:
• Cultural and ethnic diversity.
• Economic disparities and regional imbalances.
• Historical identity preservation.
• Interests of deposed Maharajas and Zamindars.
• Failure of national politics to address regional aspirations.
• Linguistic reorganisation of states.
• Charismatic regional leaders.
• Factionalism within larger parties.
• Centralising tendencies of the Congress party.
• Weak central opposition parties.
• Role of caste and religion in politics.
• Alienation and discontent among tribal groups.

Role of Regional Parties

• Governance: Provide better governance and stability at the regional level.
• Challenge to Dominance: Pose a challenge to the one-party dominant system, reducing Congress party's dominance.
• Centre-State Relations: Influence centre-state relations, pushing for greater regional autonomy.
• Competitive Politics: Make politics more competitive and increase grassroots political participation.
• Voter Choice: Broaden voter choice in elections, focusing on regional interests.
• Political Awareness: Increase political consciousness and interest in politics, highlighting local issues.
• Check on Central Power: Act as a check against central government’s dictatorial tendencies.
• Parliamentary Democracy: Contribute to the functioning of parliamentary democracy by representing minority views.
• Governor's Role: Expose the partisan role of Governors in state matters.
• Coalition Politics: Play a crucial role in coalition governments at the centre, sharing power with national parties.

Dysfunctions of Regional Parties

• Regional vs. National Interests: Prioritize regional over national interests, sometimes neglecting broader implications.
• Encouraging Divisiveness: Foster regionalism, casteism, linguism, communalism, and tribalism, hindering national integration.
• Inter-State Disputes: Contribute to unresolved inter-state disputes over water, borders, and other issues.
• Corruption and Nepotism: Engage in corruption, nepotism, and favouritism, promoting self-interest.
• Populist Measures: Focus on populist schemes to strengthen electoral base, often harming state economy and development.
• Coalition Influence: Influence decision-making in coalition governments, pushing for regional demands.

Conclusion:

• Political parties are the backbone of Indian democracy, representing diverse viewpoints and aspirations.
• From national giants to regional champions, they shape governance and advocate for societal welfare.
• Recognized and classified by the Election Commission based on electoral performance, parties adapt to the dynamic political landscape.
• While leftist parties’ champion workers' rights and rightist parties uphold cultural nationalism, regional parties highlight localized identities.
• Their emergence adds complexity, offering nuanced representation but also challenging national cohesion.
• Ultimately, the effectiveness of political parties determines the health of India's democracy.
• By promoting dialogue and inclusive governance, parties can ensure the nation's progress and uphold democratic values in the world's largest democracy.

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