(a) Analyse the role of political parties in ensuring good governance.

Political parties contest elections and enable citizens to elect

(i) their own government.

(ii) Parties that form the government frame different policies and programs, thus responding to the needs of the citizens. This ensures proper administration.

(iii) Political parties not only form governments, they also recruit leaders and train them. Once these leaders become part of the government, they ensure good governance.

(iv) Political parties which do not form the government, form the opposition instead. The opposition voices different views, they criticise the government for its failures and mobilize public opinion. This prevents the government from misusing its powers. This ensures good governance in the country.

(v) Political parties also help to shape public opinion with the help of its members, activists, pressure groups and movements where citizens play an important role. Legislatures formed by political parties make laws for the

(vi) country. Law making is vital for efficient administration

(vii) Political parties also provide citizens access to the government machinery and welfare schemes. This accessibility leads to better delivery of public services.

(b) Analyse the need of Political Parties in India.

(i) The need for political parties is directly linked to the emergence of a representative democracy like India.

(ii) Political parties contest elections. Without elections, citizens will not be able to elect their own government. This goes against the democratic idea of a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

(iii) Even if elections did take place without political parties, every candidate would be independent, policy decisions would be limited to that particular constituency. Independent representatives would be responsible to their own constituency and no one would be accountable or responsible for the country as a whole. Those political parties that do not form the government,

(iv) form the opposition. The opposition voices different views, they criticise the government for its failures and mobilise public opinion. Legislatures are formed by political parties after elections.

(v) They make laws in accordance to the needs of the people.

(vi) Parties recruit leaders and train them to enable good governance. Without parties there would be a lack of good leaders. That is why we need political parties.

(vii) Political parties also help to shape public opinion with the help of its members, activists, pressure groups and movements where citizens play an important role.

(viii) Political parties also provide citizens access to the government machinery and welfare schemes.