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role of political parties in india

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role of political parties in india
''Party system is based upon a paradoxical ideology. It breeds factional elements of disunity, sowing the seeds of diversity while at the same time it strengthens and consolidates the nation. It proves almost a blessing to a nation when it checks the government from becoming tyrannical and autocratic but in its prostituted spirit, it tears a nation into clashing groups leading the country to the worst form of demoralization". —Bryce

The origin, of party-system in its actual sense and spirit is to be traced in the origin of parliamentary forms of democracy. Even be­fore the birth of democracy there used to be parties, but those parries were entirely different from the present political ones which are essential constituents of the modern parliamentary governmental the world over. These political parties are almost indispensable for the working of democracy.

The party which controls majority of elected representatives runs the administrative machinery while the others, which form 'opposition bloc' endeavor their best to check the ruling party from becoming autocratic or dictatorial. In democracy, the political parties train up and educate the people in the light of political cons­ciousness. Thus, in an ideal party-system, people are highly benefi­ted, and the government is carried on fairly smoothly,

It must, however, be noted that parties in a modern democra­tic state must not be based upon narrow, conservative and reactionary considerations Each party in a modern democracy whether it be the 'ruling party' or the 'opposition patty' roust hats a broad out-look and its chief end should be well-being and welfare of the entire nation-not of a particular section as a particular community, as we find some communal parties in India are doing at present.

In India there are almost countless parties, but a few of them are worth mentioning—Indian National Congress (now split into various sections), the Communist Party of India (two groups), the Lok Dal, the Janata

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