Political parties

Under the system prevalent in our country, candidates can be sponsored by recognized political parties or may stand as independent candidates. The political parties compete among themselves to garner maximum representatives. The leader of the party with a maximum number of legislatures is invited to form the government.

In case no single party has enough members to constitute the majority in the house, the parties enter into coalition arrangements with other political parties who have their members elected to the house.

The governor in case of state legislatures and the President in case of the Lok Sabha invite the leader of the party or the coalition, most likely, to command a majority in the house and form the government. Each political party as such competes to win maximum seats and be able to form the government.

The political parties try to win the voters through promises that they make in their election manifestos. Thus while one party may promise to bring more industries under state control, the other may plead for more free trade.

The voters thus get a choice as far as programs for future governance are concerned. In India, we have a system of multiple parties. Parties like the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janta Party have all the Indian recognition. Others like DMK (Tamil Nadu) are regional parties.

Britain has only three parties. The USA has just two. Elections are a very expensive process both on the part of the government and the candidates and their political parties. Is it really worthwhile having so many political parties and candidates and frequent election?

Electoral competition ensures that those elected to power remain on their toes. Their conduct remains under public scrutiny during their term of office. If they fail to perform, they lose. Even for reasons of political survival, those elected as people�s representatives have to serve the people.

Political competition does at times create fissures and divisions within the society. But in the long run, it helps in forcing leaders and the political to execute works that are perceived as people-friendly.

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