Question

Compare the relative demerits of bi-party and multi-party systems.

Answer 1

Sr. No.	Demerits	Bi-Party System	Multi-Party System
1.	Representation	Limits political representation to only two broad platforms, often ignoring the needs of smaller groups or minorities.	Leads to excessive fragmentation of political forces, with too many small parties pursuing narrow interests.
2.	Democracy Quality	It can create a “winner-takes-all” environment, where the losing side is almost completely excluded from power.	It can weaken democracy by making stable majority rule difficult, resulting in frequent changes of government.
3.	Decision-Making	While decisions are quick, they may be taken without adequate debate or consideration of minority viewpoints.	Decision-making becomes slow due to the need for constant negotiation and compromise among coalition partners.
4.	Risk of Power Abuse	May encourage over-centralisation of power in a single dominant party, leading to authoritarian tendencies.	May encourage opportunistic alliances and political instability as parties switch partners for short-term gains.
5.	Political Polarisation	Deepens ideological divides, forcing citizens into two rigid political camps.	Can lead to weak governance due to unstable coalitions and frequent policy reversals.