Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Coalition Politics

Political Parties: Meaning, Functions and Need in Democracy

The Basics

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. They agree on common policies and programmes meant to promote the collective good, though different parties disagree on what that good actually is. A party is known by the part of society it stands for, the policies it supports, and the interests it upholds. It has three components: the leaders, the active members, and the followers.

Party Systems: One-Party, Two-Party and Multi-Party

The Basics

A party system shows how many parties seriously compete for power in a country. It also shows how that competition is organised.

Evolution of India's Party System: Congress Dominance, Factionalism and Growing Consensus

The Basics

After Independence, India held free elections, but one party, the Congress, won most of them for about two decades. This phase of single-party dominance, when Congress acted as both ruling party and opposition, is called the Congress system.

National and State Parties: Recognition Criteria

The Basics

Every party that wants to contest elections must first register with the Election Commission. Registration alone gives no special status. A registered party can only contest elections like an independent candidate.

Role and Rise of Regional Parties

The Basics

A regional party is one whose electoral base and appeal stay confined to a particular state or region. It speaks for a specific cultural, linguistic, religious or ethnic group. It seeks to capture power at the state level rather than at the centre.

Coalition Government: Formation, Merits and Demerits

Note coming soon.

Era of Coalition Politics in India (1989 Onwards)

The Basics

The era of coalition politics began with the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress party was defeated but no other party won a majority either.

Challenges Facing Political Parties and Reform Proposals

Note coming soon.

Pressure Groups and Associations: Meaning and Types

The Basics

A pressure group is a group of people organised to promote one common interest. It pressures the government, rather than seeking power itself.

National Integration: Meaning, Obstacles and National Integration Council

Note coming soon.

Social Cleavages and Communal Politics in Indian Democracy

The Basics

Social diversity by itself does not harm democracy. Problems arise only when a social difference like gender, religion or caste hardens into a political division that pits one group against another. This note looks at how these three cleavages work in Indian politics.