Question

‘Political parties play a significant role in the effective working of a democracy.’ Explain.

Answer 1

Political parties play a significant role in the effective working of a democracy. To fill political offices and exercise political power, political parties are needed to perform a series of functions, which are the following:

1. Parties contest elections. Elections are fought mainly among candidates put up by political parties. In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections. 
2. Parties put forward different policies and programmes. Political parties in a democracy group together similar opinions to provide a direction in which government policies can be formulated. 
3. Parties make laws for a country. Laws are debated and passed in the legislature. 
4. Parties that lose elections play the role of the opposition. Opposition parties voice their views by criticising the government for its failure or wrong policies. 
5. Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues and resolve people’s problems. Many pressure groups are the extensions of political parties. 
6. Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes. For an ordinary citizen it is easier to approach a local party leader than a government officer.