The party system always reminds those in power that they owe their existence to the support of the electorate. Therefore they must work for the welfare of the society at large.
Features
- Multiparty system: A large number of political parties to day dominate the political scene in India. The political parties are generally formed on the basis of definite social interests or political ideologies.
- Proliferation of Regional Parties : No territorial sovereignty has such a wide range of socio-cultural and ethnic diversities as in India. These diversities naturally therefore are expressed in the formation of regional parties in order to bargain with the centre for a better deal.
- Leaders more important than ideology: The political parties in India are organized around individual leaders. They owe their existence to the charismas of its leaders. The ability of influence voters and capacity to find the organization enables a leader to form a party with his own followers.
- Lack of Proper Organization: The party system in India is marked by lack of proper organizational elections and democratic functioning. Hardly the parties have evolved reliable mechanism and workable procedures for managing its affairs. The top leadership dominates the working of the parties and avoids internal election to choose party managers. Virtually all of them are named by the top leadership. This practice while strengthening the influence of the party chief weakens the party organization as a whole and affects the growth of internal democracy and leadership.
- Frequent Political Defections: Leaving one’s own party and joining another party for specific interest is called political defection. Defections have very badly affected the political stability of the country.