Students must practice these AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 12th Lesson Political Parties to boost their exam preparation.
AP Inter 2nd Year Civics Important Questions 12th Lesson Political Parties
Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Write an essay on the major National Political Parties in India.
Answer:
1. The Indian National Congress Party:
The Indian National Congress had been one of the most successful of the nationalist movements of Asia and Africa. After the achievement of independence, it adapted itself to the task of governing the country. It enjoyed two full decades of dominance in independent India. The end of the sixties witnessed the first great split in the Congress Party. In spite of the combined efforts of the Congress (0) and other non-Communist Opposition parties to dislodge the Congress (R) from power, the latter under Smt. Indira Gandhi’s leadership came to power with an absolute majority in the elections of 1972.
2. Socialist Party:
The Socialist Party went through many splits and reunions leading to the formation of many socialist parties. These included the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party, the Praja Socialist Party and Samyukta Socialist Party. Jayaprakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan, Ashok Mehta, Acharya Narendra Dev, Rammanohar Lohia and S.M. Joshi were among the leaders of the socialist parties. Many parties in contemporary India, like the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United) and the Janata Dal (Secular) trace their origins to the Socialist Party.
3. Janata Party:
During 1970s, the Janata Party was new on Indian political scene though it consisted of units that hitherto existed individually. The Opposition parties had made an abortive effort during the Fifth General Elections to Parliament in 1972, to pose a unified Opposition to the Congress Party (R). Given this background, the successful unifying process carried on by the Opposition under the label of Janata Party and their subsequent dramatic victory in the Sixth Lok Sabha Elections of 1977, came as a surprise to the nation.
4. Communist Party of India:
A.K. Gopalan, S.A. Dange, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, P.C. Joshi, Ajay Ghosh and P.Sundaraiah were among the notable leaders of the CPI. The party went through a major split in 1964 following the ideological differences between Soviet Union and China. The pro-Soviet faction remained as the CPI, while the opponents formed the CPI (Marxist). Both these parties continue to exist to this day.
5. Bharatiya Janata Party:
Although initially unsuccessful, winning only two seats in the 1984 general election, it grew in strength on the back of the Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Majid issue. Following victories in several state elections and better performances in national elections, the BJP became the largest party in the Parliament in 1996; however, it lacked a majority in the lower house of Parliament, and its government lasted only 13 days. After the 1998 general election, the BJP-led coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed a government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a year. Following fresh elections, the NDA government, again headed by Vajpayee, lasted for a full term in office; this was the first non-Congress government to do so. In the 2004 general election, the BJP led NDA suffered an unexpected defeat, and for the next ten years the BJP was the principal Opposition party. Long time Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a principal campaigner and charismatic leader of the party, led it to a landslide victory in the 2014 general elections. Since that election, Narendra Modi leads the NDA government as Prime Minister with the alliance of 13 state owned parties.
6. Lokdal:
After the split in the Janata Party the Lok Dell formed the government with the support of Congress (U). However, it could not prove its majority in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha was then dissolved and the government Shri Charan Singh was asked to continue as a care-taker-government till the new government was formed in January, 1980. The Lok Dal was formed in September 1979 which was separated from the Janata Party. Its programmes accorded highest priority to agriculture, small scale and cottage industry. It had a rural bias in its programmes.
7. Janata Dal:
The Janata Dal came into existence by merger of the Janata Party, the Jana Morcha and the Lok Dal. It was launched on 11th October, 1988 at the foundation convention at Bangalore. Its predominant support lies in the Hindi heard land and among the minorities. In September, 1989, Janata Dal in collaboration with Telugu Desam Party, the Congress (Socialist), the Asom Gana Parishad, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam constituted National Front and they even formed government at the Centre after the Ninth General Elections to Lok Sabha. However in 1990, there was a split in the Janata Dal. A faction came out of Janata Dal and formed Samajvadi Janata Party.
8. Swatantra Party:
Swatantra Party was formed in August 1959 after the Nagpur resolution of the Congress which called for land ceilings, take-over of food grain trade by the state and adoption of cooperative farming. The party was led by old Congressmen like C. Rajagopalachari, K.M. Munshi, N.G. Ranga and Minoo Masani. The party stood out from the others in terms of its position on economic issues. In the 1962 general election, the first after its formation, Swatantra Party received 6.8 percent of the total votes and won 18 seats in the third Lok Sabha (1962-67).
9. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP):
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is a Centre to Centre left political party primarily based in the states of Maharashtra, Kerala and Meghalaya. NCP was formed on 25 May 1999, by Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress (INC) on 20th May 1999, for disputing the right of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to lead the party. At the time of formation, the party also absorbed Indian Congress (Socialist), which traced its origins to anti-coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with INC.
Question 2.
Explain the various types of Parties and estimate the role of Regional Parties in India.
Answer:
Various the types of Parties:
There are four types of Political Parties in the modern democratic states. They are:
- Reactionary Parties
- Conservative Parties
- Liberal parties, and
- Radical Parties.
The Reactionary Parties are those which are clinging to the old socio-economic and political institutions. The Conservatives believe in the status-quo. The Liberal Parties aim at reforming the existing institutions. The Radical Parties aim at establishing a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions. Parties are also again classified on the basis of ideologies. The political scientists have placed the radical parties on the left, the liberal parties in the Centre and the reactionary and conservative parties on the right. In other words, they are described as the ‘leftist parties’, ‘centrist parties’ and ‘rightist parties’.
The Role of Regional Parties in India:
The Regional Parties are playing a decisive role in Indian Political System. Several regional parties became coalitional partners of national parties in forming governments at Centre. The growing presence of regional parties is, undoubtedly, the most outstanding .. aspect of political development in India over the past decades. By reading this chapter, a student can understand the concept of political system, political parties, regional political parties, the significance of regional parties, etc. This chapter enables the students to understand the nature of Indian Political System..Major National and Regional Political Parties, the dominant role played by the regional parties like National Conference, DMK, AIADMK, TDP, etc.
Question 3.
Write an essay on ‘One-Party Dominance’ in India.
Answer:
In India, the freedom struggle called for the organization of effective political parties. The Congress arose as an umbrella organization unifying all the anti-British and national elements in the country. After the achievement of indpendence, it continued to function as a political party, even though Mahatma Gandhi wanted it to remain as a mere social service organization. In the post independence politics of the country, the role of the Congress Party was so great that India was often described as a single dominant party system. The Congress was the party of consensus and its strategy was all inclusive. It was often described as a miniature Indian society which reflected all the essentials in the nation.
Being a movement turned political party; the Congress could contain various groups holding different views on important matters within its gigantic organization. Then, the Congress party was a centrist party with both leftist and rightist politics existing side by side. It had developed a built in corrective mechanism within the party in the sense that the importance of different factions alternated, depending upon the conditions outside the Congress. Traditionally, it was characterized by an overall left-of-centre position, but it was always sensitive to its internal factions. By facilitating such balance it could make the dissident elements cling to the parent organization.
Political commentators pointed out that the dominance of the Congress was not absolute. Even though the Congress had an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, it never won a majority of popular votes in any national election. On the other hand, many Opposition Parties, though they had a smaller number of members in the Lok Sabha, had considerable voter-strength behind them. And at the state level, the Congress dominance was still less.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
What is Political Party? Explain its characteristics and functions. [March-2016]
Answer:
Meaning:
Political party is an organised group of citizens having the purpose of controlling the government through shared interest, by replacing some of its members in public office.
Characteristics of Political party:
- A party should consist of a group of persons of common interest and shared valued.
- A party should have its own ideology and programme.
- It should capture power only by Constitutional means through elections.
- It should endeavour to promote the national interest and national welfare.
Functions of Political Parties:
- Political parties articulate and aggregate social interests of people.
- They promote political socialization and participation of citizens.
- They make laws for the country.
- They play the role of opposition.
- They develop good access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
Question 2.
What do you know about party system? Give a note on types of Party System.
Answer:
The party system refers to complex social and political processes, individual leaders, societal associations, political groups and organizations and their interaction and interrelationships. These interaction patterns are governed by Constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and institutions, etc.
Types of party system:
There are different types of party system which are discussed below. They are classified into a Single Party System, Bi-Party System and Multi-Party System.
1. Single Party System:
In a Single Party System only one political party is in existence. The other political parties are not allowed to function. It is possible that the dissension and grouping may exist within the same political party, viz., Nazi Party in Germany, Fascist Party in Italy, Communist Party in China and in former USSR.
2. Bi-Party System:
Under Bi-Party System, two major political parties are in working in a political system; one forms the government and the other functions as Opposition. Political power in such cases alternate between the two major political parties, viz. the Labour and the Conservative parties in UK or Republican and Democratic Parties in USA.
3. Multi-Party System:
In Multi-Party System there are more than two parties operating in a political system. But in practice they are aligned with either the ruling party or the Opposition Party. This type of party system is in existence in India, France, Sweden and Norway etc.
Question 3.
Write briefly the characteristics of Indian Party system. [March-2019]
Answer:
The characteristics of Indian Party System:
1. Multi-Party System:
The Continental size of the country, the diversified characters of Indian society have given rise to a large number of political parties in India.
2. One-party Dominance System:
Inspite of the multi-party system, the political scene in India was dominated for a long time by the Congress Party.
3. Lack of Clear Ideology:
Except the BJP, CPI and CPM, ail other parties do not have a clear-cut ideology.
4. Personality Cult:
Quite often the parties are organised around an eminent leader who becomes more important than the party and its ideology.
5. Emergence of Regional Parties:
Another significant feature of the Indian Party System is the emergence of a large number of regional parties and their growing role.
6. Lack of Effective Opposition:
In the last 63 years, an effective, strong, organized national opposition could never emerge except in flashes.
Question 4.
Write a note on Congress Party in India.
Answer:
The Indian National Congress had been one of the most successful of the nationalist movements of Asia and Africa. After the achievement of independence, it adapted itself to the task of governing the country. It enjoyed two full decades of dominance in independent India. The end of the sixties witnessed the first great split in the Congress Party. In spite of the combined efforts of the Congress (0) and other non-Communist Opposition parties to dislodge the Congress (R) from power, the latter under Smt. Indira Gandhi’s leadership came to power with an absolute majority in the elections of 1972. But gradually certain policies of the Congress led to the decline of the popularity of the Congress. In the elections of 1977 to the Parliament, the historic Congress Party, for the first time, had the bitter taste of defeat, and was reduced to the stature of an Opposition party.
Question 5.
Explain briefly about Bharatiya Janata Party.
Answer:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) established in December, 1980 is the new and modified version of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh that was founded on 21st October, 1951, under the Presidentship of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. The BJP has points of continuity with the Jana Sangh, in its discipline and well-knit organizational set-up and in its linkage with the traditional Hindu socio-cultural organizations, Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). With certain variations in its political perspective and policy orientation in has close affinity with the erstwhile Jana Sangh.
After the 1998 general election, the BJP-led coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed a government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a year. Following fresh elections, the NDA government, again headed by Vajpayee, lasted for a full term in office; this was the first non-Gongress government to do so. In the 2004 general election, the BJP led NDA suffered an unexpected defeat, and for the next ten years the BJP was the principal Opposition party. Long time Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a principal campaigner and charismatic leader of the party, led it to a landslide victory in the 2014 general elections. Since that election, Narendra Modi leads the NDA government as Prime Minister with the alliance of 13 states owned parties.
Question 6.
Estimate the significance of Regional Parties in India.
Answer:
Most regional parties have come to stay, as important political formations enjoining sizable electoral support. In India’s federal democratic polity, regional and local parties would continue to have relevance and appeal, especially for certain dominant social and economic interests. Many of these parties in effect have a characteristic similar to pressure and interest groups, both in their size and role in political party. Their influence waxes and wanes in the context of national parties. Several regional parties became coalitional partners of national parties in forming state governments.
Regional politics play an important role in Indian Politics. They are also equally involved and responsible to form the policies not only for the nation but also for the state. The regional parties should genuinely concentrate an improving the prospects and living conditions of the local people and try to give them better facilities for their basic living. Regional parties continue to favour the objective of more state autonomy but at the same time they now realize better the importance of participation in government making and policy making at the national level. However, there is a possible danger of regionalization of decision making at the national level. There is every need to guard against the development in the direction of excessive regionalization in Indian politics. In no case this should be permitted to adversely affect India’s policy decisions, particularly, foreign policy decisions.
Question 7.
Write a note on Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh.
Answer:
Telugu Desam Party was started under the leader ship of matinee Idol N.T. Rama Rao in the year 1983. It defeated the Congress party in the elections held to the AP state Legislative Assembly with vast majority and its leader N.T. Rama Rao became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Presently, the Chairperson of the Telugu Desam Party is Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who took over the party from NTR, in 1995. The TDP has formed the government in Andhra Pradesh thrice, from 1983-1989, from 1994 to 2004 and from 2014…. till date.
The TDP’s electoral fortunes in 2004 declined as the party was confronted with several issues that affected its political prospects. Notable among those was a growing demand that a Telangana state, be created out of a portion of Andhra Pradesh. The emergence of smaller parties such as Praja Rajyam (which later merged with the Congress Party) and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party also helped to erode the TDP’s traditional support base in the coastal districts of the state. In 2004 Lok Sabha elections, however, when the party managed to win only five seats, it severed its ties with the NDA and joined the so-called “Third Front” of leftist parties against Congress and the BJP. In the 2009 Parliamentary polling the party increased its seat total to six. In the Andhra Pradesh general elections, 2004 and 2009 the Congress Party captured the power. The Telugu Desam Party gained a few more assembly seats in 2009 elections than the 2004 election. In 14th Assembly General Elections held in 2014, the Telugu Desam Party under the leadership of Nara Chandra Babu Naidu got 102 seats out of 174 Seats and formed the government. Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu became the first Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Question 8.
Estimate the conditions helped for the emergence of Telangana Rastriya Samiti.
Answer:
The first statehood movement of 1950s led to the States Reorganization Commission recommending the Telangana State (then called Hyderabad State) in 1955 itself. Due to the political conditions that prevailed in Telangana then it had merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh State in November 1956. In May 1971, Telangana Praja Samithi headed by Marri Chenna Reddy won 10 of the 14 Parliament seats in Telangana region. But, very soon, Chenna Reddy merged his party with Congress Party.
While the statehood aspirations were alive in people it took sometime before they found the right platform to intensify the agitation. In mid 1990s, several peoples’ organizations started organizing meetings on the statehood issue. Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who was then the Deputy Speaker of AP State Assembly, had started background work on Telangana issue in early 2000. Oh 17th May, 2001, K.Chandra Sekhara Rao announced the launch of Telangana Rashtra Samithi party. Prof. Jayashankar, the ideologue of statehood movement extended his support to K.Chandra Sekhara Rao. In the 2004 assembly elections, the TRS formed an alliance with Indiah National Congress and won 26 state assembly seats and also won 5 Parliament seats at the national level. It joined the governments at both state and central level. In September 2006 the party withdrew support for the Central Government on the grounds of indecision by the government over the delivery of its electoral promise to create Telangana.
Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Functions of a Political Party. [March-2017]
Answer:
Political parties express public expectations and demands of social groups to the political system. They perform the recruitment function in the political system. They raise and highlight the people’s problems and issues. They act as the platform to the citizens to participate in the activities of the government.
Question 2.
Types of Party System. [Mar. ’19,’17; May ’16]
Answer:
There are three types of party system. They are: 1) Single Party System 2) Bi-Party System 3) Multiparty System. Only one political party exists in single party system. Under Bi-party system, two political parties exist and two or more political parties function in muti-party system.
Question 3.
National Parties. [Mar. ’19,’18; May ’16]
Answer:
The Parties, which are spread to the large portion of the territory of the Nation are called National Parties. The national parties play predominant role in the national level politics and compete with each other during the elections to the union legislature to capture the power and to form the government at National Level.
For e.g: the Indian National Congress, Janata Party, Bharatiya Janata Party in India.
Question 4.
Regional Parties. [March 2016; May ’17]
Answer:
Regional parties confine their political activity to a particular region. The regional parties should genuinely concentrate on improving the prospects and living conditions of the local people and try to give them better facilities for their basic living.
For eg: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Question 5.
DMK.
Answer:
In 1944, the Justice Party which emerged in 1925 and the self-respect movement merged together to form Dravida Kazhagam (DK) under the leadership of E.V. Rama Swami Nayakar. In 1949 C.N. Annadurai got separated from it and formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). It concentrated in building a Tamil identity and played the original anti-brahmin stance.
Question 6.
AIADMK.
Answer:
The internal factional conflicts in DMK Party resulted in the formation of All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) under the leadership of M.G. Rama Chandran. The DMK and AIADMK are the main rivals in Tamil Nadu even today. At present, in recent 2014 elections, AIADMK has won the people’s mandate and Jayalalitha became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Question 7.
One-Party Dominance.
Answer:
In the post independence politics of the country, the role of the Congress party was so great that India was often described as a single dominant party system. The Congress was the party of consensus and its strategy was all inclusive. It was often described as a miniature Indian society which reflected all the essentials in the nation.
Question 8.
Multi-party System. [March 2016; May ’17]
Answer:
In Multi-party System there are more than two parties operating in a political system. But in practice they are aligned with either the ruling party of the opposition party. This type of party system is in existence in India, France, Sweeden and Norway, etc.
Question 9.
Bahujan Samaj Party. [March-2018]
Answer:
Bahujan Samaj Party was set up by Kanshi Ram. Mayawati has been described as the guiding angel of the BSP and in fact its savior. The Scheduled Castes, Tribes, educationally and socially backward classes are the members of this party. After the death of Kanshi Ram, Mayawati became the savior of this party in all respects.
Question 10.
Nationalist Congress Party.
Answer:
The Nationalist Congress Party was formed on 25th May 1999, by Sharad Pawar, P.A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress, for disputing the right of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to lead the party. The Election Commission of India has recognised the NCP as a National Party. In the history of the country, this was the only party to have attained that status in such a short span of time.