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Political Parties: TBSE Class 10 Political Science answers, extras
Get here the notes, questions, answers, textbook solutions, summary, additional/extras, and PDF of TBSE (Tripura Board) Class 10 Social Science (Political Science/Democratic Politics II) “Political Parties.” However, the provided notes should only be treated as references, and the students are encouraged to make changes to them as they feel appropriate.
Summary
Political parties are very important in democracies because they bring together people with similar policies and ideas to run for office and be in charge of the government. They show the political divides in society and are known for their partisan stances, policies, and interests. Political parties have three parts: leaders, active members, and followers. They run for office, come up with policies and programmes, help make laws, and run the government. People vote for a political party if they think it is responsive to their needs and wants.
Political parties play a crucial role in representative democracies. They are necessary for a democracy to work because they gather different points of view on different issues and give them to the government. They also bring together representatives to form a responsible government, support or restrain the government, and make policies. The number of political parties in a country is not a fixed number. It depends on the nature of society, how it is split up socially and geographically, and its history of politics. Each country has a party system that is shaped by its own unique circumstances, and no system is perfect for all countries and situations.
People in South Asia and other democracies don’t trust political parties very much, according to surveys with large samples. In spite of this, though, the number of people who join political parties in India is high and has been steadily rising for the last 30 years. In India, political parties are registered with the Election Commission. Depending on how well they do in elections, they are recognised as either national or state parties. In 2018, there were seven recognised national parties in the country.
The Indian National Congress (INC., also known as the Congress Party, is one of the oldest political parties in the world. It was founded in 1885. It was the main force in Indian politics for many years after independence, especially when Jawaharlal Nehru was in charge. The party supports secularism and the welfare of weaker groups and minorities. It also wants new economic reforms with a human face. The Congress Party was in power at the centre until 1977 and again from 1980 to 1989. From 2004 to 2014, it led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA. government. Right now, the Congress Party is the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was started in 1980 by reviving the old Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was started by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. The BJP wants to build a strong and modern India by looking at India’s ancient culture and values and Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural nationalism, or Hindutva, is an important part of how the party sees India and Indian politics.
The BJP wants full political and territorial integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India. They also want a uniform civil code for everyone in the country, no matter what religion they are, and a ban on religious conversions. In the 1990s, the number of people who supported the party grew a lot. Before the 1990s, the party was only popular in the north, west, and cities. Now, it has supporters in the south, east, north-east, and rural areas. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won the most seats and is now leading the ruling NDA government at the centre.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded in 1925, and it believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism, and democracy. The party is against secessionism and communalism, and it accepts parliamentary democracy as a way to promote the interests of the working class, farmers, and the poor. In 1964, there was a split in the CPI that led to the formation of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). The CPI is strong in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, but its support base has been slowly shrinking over time. The party got less than 1% of the votes and only one seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was founded in 1964, and it believes in Marxism-Leninism. It supports socialism, secularism, and democracy and is against imperialism and communalism. The CPI-M agrees that democratic elections are a useful and helpful way to reach the goal of socio-economic justice in India. The party has strong support in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers, and intelligentsia. The CPI-M was in charge of West Bengal for 34 years. The party won about 3% of the vote and 9 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In India, the Election Commission classifies a number of large political parties as state parties or regional parties. However, these parties do not necessarily have a regional ideology or point of view. The power and number of these parties have grown, making the Parliament of India more political diverse. National parties are forced to join forces with state parties, which has made federalism and democracy in the country stronger. But political parties have to deal with four problems: a lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and the lack of meaningful choices for voters. Parties need to find ways to deal with these problems if they want to keep being effective tools of democracy.
In a democracy, political parties need to be changed in order to deal with the problems that citizens face. Leaders of political parties make the final decision about whether or not to make changes. In some countries, political parties and leaders have been tried to be changed. For example, the constitution was changed so that elected representatives couldn’t change parties. But if all party leaders are not willing to change, it is hard to make them.
The author talks about various ways to change political parties to make them more democratic on the inside. One idea is to make a law that regulates internal affairs and sets quotas for women in decision-making bodies. Another idea is to reduce the power of money and criminals by making candidates file an affidavit that lists their property and criminal history. Some people think that the state should pay for elections as a solution. But the author admits that too much regulation can be counterproductive and that political parties may not agree to a law they don’t like. The author says that public pressure and more public participation can also help improve political parties.
Textual questions and answers
1. State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy.
Answer: Political parties play an important role in a democracy by performing a variety of functions. These include:
i. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put forward by political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways.
ii. In a democracy, a large number of similar opinions have to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the governments. This is what the parties do. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions that it supports.
iii. Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country. Formally, laws are debated and passed in the legislature. But since most of the members belong to a party, they follow the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.
iv. Parties form and run governments. The big policy decisions are taken by political executives that come from the political parties. Parties recruit leaders, train them, and then make them ministers to run the government the way they want.
v. Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising the government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.
vi. Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are the extensions of political parties among different sections of society.
2. What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
Answer: Political parties face a variety of challenges in a democracy. These include gaining and maintaining public support, staying relevant in the changing political landscape, and dealing with internal divisions. Political parties must work to gain and maintain public support in order to stay in power, as their success depends on the public’s willingness to vote for them. They must also stay relevant in the changing political landscape, as new issues arise and public opinion shifts. Additionally, political parties must deal with internal divisions, as different factions within the party may have different opinions on various issues. Political parties must find a way to bridge these divisions and maintain a unified front in order to remain successful.
3. Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?
Answer: There are a variety of reforms that can be implemented to strengthen political parties and ensure they are performing their functions well. These include introducing internal democracy within the party, encouraging transparency and accountability, and increasing public participation. Internal democracy within the party can help ensure that all members have a say in the decision-making process and can help to reduce internal divisions. Transparency and accountability can be increased by making party finances and activities more open and accessible to the public. Additionally, public participation can be increased by encouraging more citizens to join political parties and take part in their activities.
4. What is a political party?
Answer: 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 the society with a view to promote the collective good.
5. What are the characteristics of a political party?
Answer: The characteristics of a political party include:
i. Ideology: The set of beliefs and values that guide its policies and actions.
ii. Structure: The organizational hierarchy and decision-making processes.
iii. Leadership: The top officials, such as its chairman, leader, or spokesperson.
iv. Membership: The members, who can be individuals or organizations.
v. Electoral Strategies: The tactics it uses to win elections, such as campaigning, fundraising, and advertising.
6. A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a _____________________.
Answer: political party
7. Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
| List I | List II |
| 1. Congress Party | A. National Democratic Alliance |
| 2. Bharatiya Janata Party | B. State party |
| 3. Communist Party of India | C. United Progressive (Marxist) Alliance |
| 4. Telugu Desam Party | D. Left Front |
Answer: 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B
8. Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?
A. Kanshi Ram
B. Sahu Maharaj
C. B.R. Ambedkar
D. Jotiba Phule
Answer: A. Kanshi Ram
9. What is the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party?
A. Bahujan Samaj
B. Revolutionary democracy
C. Integral humanism
D. Modernity
Answer: C. Integral humanism
10. Consider the following statements on parties.
A. Political parties do not enjoy much trust among the people.
B. Parties are often rocked by scandals involving top party leaders.
C. Parties are not necessary to run governments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C
Answer: (b) A and B
11. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Muhammad Yunus is a famous economist of Bangladesh. He received several international honours for his efforts to promote economic and social development for the benefit of the poor. He and the Grameen Bank he started jointly, received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006. In February 2007, he decided to launch a political party and contest in the parliamentary elections. His objective was to foster proper leadership, good governance and build a new Bangladesh. He felt that only a political party different from the traditional ones would bring about new political culture. His party would be democratic from the grassroots level.
The launching of the new party, called Nagarik Shakti (Citizens’ Power), has caused a stir among the Bangladeshis. While many welcomed his decision, some did not like it. “Now I think Bangladesh will have a chance to choose between good and bad and eventually have a good government,” said Shahedul Islam, a government official. “That government, we hope, would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting corruption and black money a top priority.”
But leaders of traditional political parties who dominated the country’s politics for decades were apprehensive. “There was no debate (over him) winning the Nobel, but politics is different – very challenging and often controversial,” said a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Some others were highly critical. They asked why he was rushing into politics. “Is he being planted in politics by mentors from outside the country,” asked one political observer.
Do you think Yunus made the right decision to float a new political party? Do you agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people? How do you want this new party organised to make it different from other parties? If you were the one to begin this political party, how would you defend it?
Answer: I believe that Muhammad Yunus made the right decision to float a new political party in order to foster proper leadership, good governance, and build a new Bangladesh. I understand the statements and fears expressed by various people, and I believe that in order to make the new party different from other parties, it should be organized with grassroots democratic principles and an emphasis on fighting corruption and black money. If I were the one to begin this political party, I would defend it by emphasising its commitment to fostering proper leadership, good governance, and building a new Bangladesh.
Additional/extra questions and answers/solutions, MCQs
1. What is a political party?
Answer: A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in government. They agree on policies and programs to promote the collective good and reflect political divisions in society.
2. What are the three components of a political party?
Answer: The three components of a political party are the leaders, the active members, and the followers.
3. Why do people support a political party?
Answer: People support a political party if they perceive it to be responsive to their needs and demands.
4. Why are political parties necessary in modern democracies?
Answer: Political parties are necessary in modern democracies because they perform various functions such as gathering different views on various issues, presenting these to the government, supporting or restraining the government, making policies, justifying or opposing them. Political parties are also a necessary condition for representative democracies.
5. What is the relationship between the rise of political parties and the emergence of representative democracies?
Answer: The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. As societies became large and complex, they needed some agency to gather different views on various issues and to form a responsible government. Political parties fulfill these needs of every representative government.
6. What is a two-party system?
Answer: A two-party system is when power usually changes between two main parties, and several other parties may exist, contest elections and win a few seats in the national legislatures, but only the two main parties have a serious chance of winning a majority of seats to form government.
7. What is a multiparty system?
Answer: A multiparty system is when several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others. The government is formed by various parties coming together in a coalition.
8. What is the Indian National Congress (INC.?
Answer: The Indian National Congress (INC., also known as the Congress Party, is one of the oldest political parties in the world, founded in 1885. It played a dominant role in Indian politics for several decades after independence, especially under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. The party supports secularism and the welfare of weaker sections and minorities, and it advocates for new economic reforms with a human face. The Congress Party was in power at the center till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989, and it was the leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA. government from 2004 to 2014. Currently, the Congress Party is the principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
9. What is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?
Answer: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. The BJP seeks to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture and values and Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural nationalism, or Hindutva, is an important element in the party’s conception of Indian nationhood and politics. The BJP supports full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code for all people in the country regardless of religion, and a ban on religious conversions. The party’s support base increased substantially in the 1990s, expanding from its earlier limited presence in north and west and urban areas to the south, east, north-east and rural areas. The BJP emerged as the largest party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and currently leads the ruling NDA government at the center.
10. What is the Communist Party of India (CPI)?
Answer: The Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1925 and believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism, and democracy. The party opposes the forces of secessionism and communalism and accepts parliamentary democracy as a means of promoting the interests of the working class, farmers, and the poor. The CPI became weak after a split in the party in 1964 that led to the formation of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). The CPI has a significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, but its support base has gradually declined over the years. The party secured less than 1% of the votes and one seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
11. What is the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)?
Answer: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was founded in 1964 and believes in Marxism-Leninism. It supports socialism, secularism, and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism. The CPI-M accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful means of securing the objective of socio-economic justice in India. The party enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural laborers, and the intelligentsia. The CPI-M was in power in West Bengal for 34 years without a break. The party won about 3% of the votes and 9 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
12. What are the major parties in India classified by the Election Commission?
Answer: The major parties in India are classified by the Election Commission as ‘National parties’ and ‘State parties’.
13. What are State parties commonly referred to as?
Answer: State parties are commonly referred to as regional parties.
14. Why do political parties receive criticism from people?
Answer: Political parties receive criticism from people because they are the most visible face of democracy and are blamed for whatever is wrong with the working of democracy.
15. What are the four problem areas in the working of political parties?
Answer: The four problem areas in the working of political parties are lack of internal democracy within parties, dynastic succession, the growing role of money and muscle power, and lack of meaningful choice to the voters.
16. What is the challenge of internal democracy within parties?
Answer: The challenge of internal democracy within parties is the tendency towards concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top. Ordinary members do not have enough means to influence the decisions, which results in leaders having more power to make decisions.
17. What is the challenge of dynastic succession?
Answer: The challenge of dynastic succession is related to the lack of internal democracy within parties. Top positions in many parties are controlled by members of one family, which is unfair to other members and bad for democracy as well.
18. What is the challenge of the growing role of money and muscle power in parties?
Answer: The challenge of the growing role of money and muscle power in parties is the use of short-cuts to win elections, such as nominating candidates who have or can raise lots of money, and supporting criminals who can win elections. This leads to rich people and big companies having more influence in democratic politics.
19. What is the challenge of offering meaningful choice to voters?
Answer: The challenge of offering meaningful choice to voters is the decline in the ideological differences among parties, leading to a lack of really different policies for those who want it. Sometimes people cannot even elect very different leaders, as the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.
20. What are the suggestions made to reform political parties?
Answer: The suggestions made to reform political parties include making a law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties, making it compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of members, following its own constitution, having an independent authority, holding open elections to the highest posts, giving a minimum number of tickets to women candidates, having a quota for women in the decision making bodies of the party, reducing the influence of money and criminals, state funding of elections, and filing of income tax returns by political parties.
21. What is the impact of a new law on defection in political parties?
Answer: The new law that says MPs and MLAs will lose their seat in the legislature if they change parties has helped bring down defection. However, it has made any dissent even more difficult as MPs and MLAs have to accept what the party leaders decide.
22. What are the two other ways in which political parties can be reformed?
Answer: The two other ways in which political parties can be reformed are through people putting pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitations, and by people who want reforms joining political parties and participating in the political process.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
23. What do political parties do?
A. Contests elections
B. Persuades people
C. Implements policies
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
24. What type of political system allows only one political party to rule?
A. One-Party System
B. Two-Party System
C. Multi-Party System
D. Coalition System
Answer: A. One-Party System
25. What type of political system allows only two major political parties to compete in elections?
A. One-Party System
B. Two-Party System
C. Multi-Party System
D. Coalition System
Answer: B. Two-Party System
26. What type of political system allows several political parties to compete for power?
A. One-Party System
B. Two-Party System
C. Multi-Party System
D. Coalition System
Answer: C. Multi-Party System
27. What is a coalition in political system?
A. One-Party Rule
B. Two-Major Parties
C. Multiple Parties
D. Alliance of Parties
Answer: D. Alliance of Parties
28. How many recognised national parties were there in India in 2018?
A. 6
B. 7
C. 5
D. 8
Answer: B. 7
29. What is the Indian National Congress (INC)?
A. Political party
B. Cultural organization
C. Social welfare group
D. Economic reform movement
Answer: A. Political party
30. When was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) founded?
A. 1980
B. 1925
C. 1951
D. 1885
Answer: A. 1980
31. What is an important element in the BJP’s conception of Indian nationhood and politics?
A. Secularism
B. Hindutva
C. Integral humanism
D. Antyodaya
Answer: B. Hindutva
32. What is the Communist Party of India (CPI)?
A. Political party
B. Social welfare group
C. Cultural organization
D. Economic reform movement
Answer: A. Political party
33. When was the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) founded?
A. 1980
B. 1925
C. 1964
D. 1951
Answer: C. 1964
34. What is the first challenge faced by political parties?
A. Internal Democracy
B. Dynastic Succession
C. Money Power
D. Lack of Choice
Answer: A. Internal Democracy
35. Who makes the final decision in a democracy?
A. The people
B. The leaders
C. The wealthy
D. The military
Answer: B. The leaders
36. What is defection in politics?
A. Staying loyal
B. Switching sides
C. Attacking others
D. Retiring early
Answer: B. Switching sides
37. What is the impact of changing political parties?
A. Increased defection
B. Difficult dissent
C. Loss of legislative seat
D. Party leader decides
Answer: C. Loss of legislative seat
