Political Parties

Political Parties are Voluntary associations or Organised groups with same Political views who try to gain Political power through Constitutional means to promote National Interest
Four Types
- Reactionary Parties
  - Old Socio Economic and Political Institutions
- Conservative Parties
  - Believe in the status-quo
- Liberal Parties
  - Aim at reforming the existing institutions
- Radical Parties
  - Establishing a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions
Types of Party System
- One Ruling Party : China
- Two Party System : US
- Multi Party System : India
Multi Party System
- - There are number of Political Parties leading to formation of coalition governments
- One dominant Party : Congress for long period after independence
- Lack of Clear Ideology : almost every party advocates democracy, secularism, socialism, Gandhism
- Personality Cult : Party organised around an eminent leader
- Traditional Factors : Parties based on religion, caste, language, culture, race, etc
- Emergency of Regional Parties
- Factions and Defections
- Lack of Effective Opposition

National Party
- If it secures 6% of valid votes polled in any 4 or more States at General Elections to LS or LA and in addition it wins wins 4 seats in LS from any state or states
- If it wins 2% of seats in LS at general election and these candidates are elected form 3 states
- If it is recognised State Party in 4 states
State Party
- If it secures 6% of valid votes polled in the state at General election to LA, in addition it wins 2 seats in assembly
- If it secures 6% of valid votes polled in the state at General election to LS, in addition it wins 1 seat in Lok Sabha
- If it secures 8% of valid votes polled in the state at General election to LS or LA (added in 2011)
- If it wins 3% of seats in LA at general election or 3 seats whichever is more
- If it wins 1 seat in LS for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to State at a general election to LS from State concerned