Describe some ways political parties around the world can be reformed to overcome the challenges they face.
Answer:
Points to Remember
Answer to be written in exam
Political parties around the world can be reformed to overcome the challenges they face in the following ways:
- Discourage the practice of defection - Laws should be made to prevent elected MLAs/MPs from changing parties. It should be done as many elected representatives indulge in defection in order to become ministers or for cash rewards.
- Reduce the influence of money and criminals - We should aim to reduce the influence of money and criminals. It should be mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of their property and criminal cases pending against them.
- Conducting the organizational elections regularly - It should be necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns regularly.
- Regulate the internal affairs of political parties - A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow its own constitution, to have independent authority, and to act as a judge in case of party disputes.
- Maximum participation for women candidates - It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates. Similarly, there should be a quota for women in the decision-making bodies of the party.
- State funding of elections - There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses.
Write any 5 points.
