Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Party politics in India has confronted numerous challenges. Not only has the Congress system destroyed itself, but the fragmentation of the Congress coalition has triggered a new emphasis on self-representation which raises questions about the party system and its capacity to accommodate diverse interes,. . An important test facing the polity is to evolve a party system or political parties that can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interests. — Zoya Hasan
(a) Write a short note on what the author calls challenges of the party system in the light of what you have read in this chapter.
(b) Given an example from this chapter of the lack of accommodation and aggregation mentioned in this passage.
(c) Why is it necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interests?
Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Party politics in India has confronted numerous challenges. Not only has the Congress system destroyed itself, but the fragmentation of the Congress coalition has triggered a new emphasis on self-representation which raises questions about the party system and its capacity to accommodate diverse interes,. . An important test facing the polity is to evolve a party system or political parties that can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interests. — Zoya Hasan
(a) Write a short note on what the author calls challenges of the party system in the light of what you have read in this chapter.
(b) Given an example from this chapter of the lack of accommodation and aggregation mentioned in this passage.
(c) Why is it necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interests?
a) The author identifies the challenges faced by the party system in India. These are:
i. The new era of politics of coalition has brought about increased political instability; it has led to the formation of alliances of opportunities and convenience.
ii. Growing factionalism and disputes within the party question the very credibility of its leaders and policies.
iii. Growing corruption and use of muscle and money have dented the image of the party.
iv. Lack of inner party democracy and authoritarian style of functioning centring around one leader also question the credibility of the party.
v. Most of the parties today lack institutional structure. Ever 'regional partyr religion-baseor culture-based or caste-based) ll based on the principle oa leadership thch is authoritarian because all regional parties are personality-based outfits, fr. ample, BSP and DMK.
vi. Parties have become more exclusive and issue specific in their approach and lack umbrella coalition. We may give examples of caste-based parties. Even the elevation of the BJP initially was based on its core Hindutva ideology.
b) We may give examples of parties based on singular identity like caste-based parties. Alliance politics and coalition government aim at keeping a political rival out of power rather than genuinely accommodating diverse interests. Even within the parties, the authoritarian style of functioning has made it difficult for the members to reach at a consensus.
c) It is argued that the Indian democracy is threatened because a completely undemocratic party system cannot be expected to practice democracy in governance. Parties have to be more democratic in their approach; they should accommodate diverse interests so as to give a meaning to democracy and to expand the very idea of democracy. This can make the democratic system more inclusive and representative in nature.
a) The author identifies the challenges faced by the party system in India. These are:
i. The new era of politics of coalition has brought about increased political instability; it has led to the formation of alliances of opportunities and convenience.
ii. Growing factionalism and disputes within the party question the very credibility of its leaders and policies.
iii. Growing corruption and use of muscle and money have dented the image of the party.
iv. Lack of inner party democracy and authoritarian style of functioning centring around one leader also question the credibility of the party.
v. Most of the parties today lack institutional structure. Ever 'regional partyr religion-baseor culture-based or caste-based) ll based on the principle oa leadership thch is authoritarian because all regional parties are personality-based outfits, fr. ample, BSP and DMK.
vi. Parties have become more exclusive and issue specific in their approach and lack umbrella coalition. We may give examples of caste-based parties. Even the elevation of the BJP initially was based on its core Hindutva ideology.
b) We may give examples of parties based on singular identity like caste-based parties. Alliance politics and coalition government aim at keeping a political rival out of power rather than genuinely accommodating diverse interests. Even within the parties, the authoritarian style of functioning has made it difficult for the members to reach at a consensus.
c) It is argued that the Indian democracy is threatened because a completely undemocratic party system cannot be expected to practice democracy in governance. Parties have to be more democratic in their approach; they should accommodate diverse interests so as to give a meaning to democracy and to expand the very idea of democracy. This can make the democratic system more inclusive and representative in nature.
