Political parties perform the following functions in a democracy:
(i) Parties contest elections: In most of democratic countries, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by the political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways. In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes: Each one of us may have different opinions and views on what policies are suitable for the society. In democracy large number of similar opinions has to be grouped together to provide a direction in which policies can be formulated by the government. This is what the parties do. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports. The government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by the ruling party.
(iii) Parties make laws for the country: Though laws are passed by the legislature but since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.
(iv) Parties form and run government: Political parties recruit leaders, train them and make them ministers to run the government in the way they want.
(v) Parties play role of the opposition to the parties in power: They voice different views and criticise government for its failures or wrong policies. Opposition parties also mobilise opposition to the government.
(vi) Parties shape public opinion: They shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues. They do these through pressure groups, which are the extensions of political parties and also launch movements for resolutions of problems faced by the people.
(vii) Parties provide people access to government welfare schemes: For an ordinary citizen it is easier to approach a local party leader than a government officer. They feel close to party even if they do not fully trust them. Even parties have to be responsive to the people’s needs and demands otherwise people can reject parties in the next elections.
