Challenges to Parties MCQs Quiz | Class 10
Welcome to the Class X Political Science quiz on the Unit ‘Political Parties’, focusing on ‘Challenges to Parties MCQs Quiz | Class 10’. This quiz covers important concepts like one-party dominance and defection. Test your knowledge with 10 multiple-choice questions. Submit your answers to view your score and download a detailed answer sheet in PDF format for review.
Understanding Challenges to Political Parties: Dynastic Succession, Money & Muscle Power, Lack of Internal Democracy, and Defection
Political parties are the backbone of any democratic system, enabling citizens to participate in governance. However, they frequently encounter various challenges that can undermine their effectiveness, credibility, and democratic functioning. Understanding these challenges is crucial for a healthy democracy.
Key Challenges Faced by Political Parties:
- Lack of Internal Democracy: Many political parties do not practice internal democracy. This means that power is often concentrated in the hands of a few top leaders, and ordinary members have little say in decision-making, choice of candidates, or party policies. There are often no regular organizational meetings or internal elections, and membership registers are rarely maintained.
- Dynastic Succession: This challenge is closely linked to the lack of internal democracy. In many parties, leadership positions are passed on from one generation to the next within the same family. This practice deprives deserving party members of opportunities and reinforces the idea that leadership is based on birth rather than merit or popularity among party members.
- Money and Muscle Power: The role of money and muscle power has become a dominant challenge, especially during elections. Wealthy candidates and parties with significant financial resources often have an unfair advantage. Additionally, parties sometimes nominate candidates with criminal records who can win elections using intimidation or illegal means, thereby bringing criminals into public office.
- Lack of Meaningful Choice: In some democracies, voters are faced with a lack of meaningful choice. This occurs when major political parties offer very similar policies and programs, making it difficult for voters to differentiate between them or to choose a party that genuinely represents their diverse interests.
Understanding Defection:
Defection refers to the act of an elected representative leaving the party on whose ticket he or she was elected and joining another party, typically after an election. This practice became a major concern in Indian politics as it often led to instability in governments, with elected representatives switching parties for personal gain or political leverage, rather than ideological reasons.
Anti-Defection Law:
To curb the menace of defection, India enacted the Anti-Defection Law (also known as the 52nd Amendment to the Constitution of India) in 1985. This law aims to prevent elected Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from changing political parties for personal gain or to destabilize governments. Under this law, if an elected member defects from their party, they can lose their seat in the legislature.
| Aspect | Before Anti-Defection Law | After Anti-Defection Law |
|---|---|---|
| Government Stability | Frequent collapses due to changing loyalties. | Increased stability as defection is penalized. |
| Representative’s Loyalty | Loyalty to personal gain over party/voters. | Greater accountability to the party whip. |
| Democratic Integrity | Undermined by ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ politics. | Strengthened, though party high command power increased. |
One-Party Dominance:
One-party dominance refers to a political system where one political party consistently holds power for a prolonged period, often winning elections by a significant margin. While it can bring stability, prolonged one-party dominance can also lead to a weak opposition, reduced accountability, and a potential for authoritarian tendencies. It can stifle dissent and make the ruling party complacent, reducing their responsiveness to public needs. This is different from a one-party system where only one party is legally allowed to exist.
Quick Revision Points:
- Internal Democracy: Lack of transparency in party functioning.
- Dynastic Succession: Hereditary leadership, hindering merit.
- Money & Muscle Power: Use of wealth and coercion in elections.
- Defection: Elected representative changing party allegiance.
- Anti-Defection Law (1985): Aimed to stop frequent party switching.
- One-Party Dominance: One party in power for a long period, potentially weakening opposition.
Further Practice Questions:
- Explain how the lack of internal democracy affects the functioning of political parties.
- Discuss the implications of dynastic succession for democratic principles within a political party.
- How does the use of money and muscle power undermine free and fair elections?
- What were the primary reasons for introducing the Anti-Defection Law in India?
- Analyze the potential advantages and disadvantages of one-party dominance in a democratic country.
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