National & State Parties, Challenges & Reforms

NCERT Democratic Politics-II | Chapter 4: Political Parties

National Parties in India — List and Recognition Criteria

Federal democracies worldwide tend to have two kinds of parties: those present in only one unit of the federation, and those that operate across several or all units. India follows this pattern. Parties with a nationwide presence are called national parties^?. These parties have units across various states and generally follow policies, programmes, and strategies decided at the national level.

Recognition by the Election Commission

Every party in India must register with the Election Commission^?. The Commission grants special facilities to large, established parties — including a unique election symbol that only official candidates of that party may use. Such parties are called recognised political parties.

As per the Election Commission's 2023 notification, there are seven recognised national parties in India. Let us look at each one:

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Founded in 1980 as a revival of the earlier Bharatiya Jana Sangh (established by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951), the BJP draws ideological inspiration from India's ancient cultural values and Deendayal Upadhyaya's concept of integral humanism and Antyodaya. Cultural nationalism (often termed 'Hindutva') is central to its vision of Indian nationhood. The party advocates full territorial integration of Jammu and Kashmir, a uniform civil code, and restrictions on religious conversions.

Initially concentrated in north and west India and urban areas, BJP expanded its base significantly through the 1990s into southern, eastern, and north-eastern regions and rural areas. It first came to power at the Centre in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it emerged as the largest party with 303 seats and currently leads the ruling NDA government.

2. Indian National Congress (INC)

Commonly known as the Congress Party, INC is one of the oldest political parties globally, founded in 1885. Under Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership, it sought to build a modern, secular, democratic republic. Congress was the ruling party at the Centre until 1977, and again from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support base narrowed, but it maintains a presence across the country, cutting across social divisions.

Ideologically centrist (neither right nor left), the party champions secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities. It supports economic reforms with a focus on social equity. Congress led the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2014. In the 2019 elections, it secured approximately 19.5% of votes and 52 Lok Sabha seats.

3. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

Formed in 1984 under Kanshi Ram's leadership, BSP seeks to represent the 'bahujan samaj' — dalits, adivasis, OBCs, and religious minorities. It draws philosophical inspiration from social reformers like Sahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami Naicker, and B.R. Ambedkar. With its primary base in Uttar Pradesh and significant presence in neighbouring states, BSP has formed the state government in UP multiple times. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it polled about 3.63% of votes and won 10 seats.

4. Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M)

Founded in 1964, CPI-M follows Marxism-Leninism while supporting socialism, secularism, and democracy. It opposes imperialism and communalism and views democratic elections as a useful tool for achieving socio-economic justice. The party has strong support bases in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura, particularly among the economically disadvantaged, factory workers, farmers, and the intelligentsia. CPI-M governed West Bengal continuously for 34 years. In 2019, it won approximately 1.75% of votes and 3 Lok Sabha seats.

5. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Established on 26 November 2012 following the 2011 anti-corruption movement, AAP was founded on principles of accountability, clean administration, transparency, and good governance. Within a year of formation, it became the second-largest party in the Delhi Assembly and formed a government with Congress support. AAP has since governed Delhi and Punjab, and emerged as a significant political force in Gujarat. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it secured one seat.

6. National People's Party (NPP)

Formed in July 2013 under P.A. Sangma's leadership, NPP is the first political party from North-East India to achieve national party status. It recognises that different regions face distinct developmental challenges and advocates education, employment, and empowerment for all sections. NPP has formed the government in Meghalaya and has a presence across several north-eastern states. It secured one Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

7. Communist Party of India (CPI)

State Parties and Regional Parties in Indian Democracy

Beyond the national parties, most major Indian political organisations are classified by the Election Commission as State parties^?. Although commonly called 'regional parties,' many of them are not regional in ideology or outlook. Some, like the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, have national-level organisational structures with units across several states. Others, like the Biju Janata Dal (Odisha), Sikkim Democratic Front, Mizo National Front, and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, are more strongly tied to their state identity.

Over the last three decades, the number and influence of state parties has grown considerably. This has made Parliament more politically diverse. Until 2014, no single national party could secure a Lok Sabha majority on its own. As a result, national parties were compelled to form alliances with state parties. Since 1996, nearly every state party has participated in a national-level coalition government at some point — strengthening both federalism and democracy.

Major Challenges Facing Political Parties in India

Since political parties are the most visible face of democracy, citizens naturally direct their dissatisfaction with governance at the parties. Across the world, people express strong criticism of how parties function. In India, four specific problem areas have been identified:

How Can Political Parties Be Reformed — Suggested Measures

The question of reforming political parties is complex. In a democracy, final decisions are made by leaders who represent parties. If all leaders resist reform, forcing change becomes difficult. Nevertheless, some steps have been taken and others have been proposed.

Steps Already Taken

Proposed Reforms

• Legal regulation of internal affairs: Parties could be required to maintain membership registers, follow their constitutions, establish independent dispute-resolution bodies, and hold open elections for top positions.
• Women's representation: Parties could be mandated to reserve at least one-third of election tickets for women. Similarly, quotas for women in party decision-making bodies could be established.
• State funding of elections: The government could provide parties with resources (petrol, paper, telephone, or cash based on past vote share) to reduce dependence on private donors and the influence of wealthy interests.

Citizen-Driven Reform

Beyond legal changes, two other pathways exist. First, citizens, pressure groups, movements, and the media can put public pressure on parties through petitions, publicity, and agitations. Second, reform-minded citizens can join political parties directly. The quality of democratic governance ultimately depends on the degree of public participation. Those who want better politics must engage with politics rather than merely criticising from the outside.