राजनितिक पार्टी के भीतर आंतरिक लोकतंत्र की कमी भारतीय राजनीतिक प्रणाली की कार्यप्रणाली और वैधता को कितना प्रभावित करती है? भारत में अपर्याप्त अंतरराष्ट्रीय लोकतंत्र की चुनौतियों को संबोधित करने के लिए कोन-कोन से सुधार किए जा सकते हैं? To what extent does the level of internal democracy within political parties impact the functioning and legitimacy of the Indian polity system? What reforms can address the challenges of inadequate intraparty democracy in India?

India follows a multi-party system where each party selects their candidate for particular constituencies.

Declining intraparty democracy can be seen in the following cases:

i) Winnability of candidate major factor behind selection of candidate

ii) Candidates with money and muscle power preferred.

iii) Candidates with criminal records allowed to compete election from the party.

iv) Old, loyal candidates of the party given tickets.

v) Lack of youth, women, SCs, STs in the candidate list.

vi) Representation to minority only on reserved seats mostly.

Internal party democracy will help in :-

selection of candidates that are better suited to elect the people.

Leads to more focus on work rather internal party politics.

Provides representation to all

Reduction in money and muscle power

Cleaner candidates will get more opportunities.

Educated leaders will be preferred.

Reduce the dynastic politic and nepotism in the political parties.

There will help in better functioning and legitimacy of internal party system.

However, there are some challeng es to this:

i) Most political parties are dynastic – formed key the people and their family members

ii) Charisma of leader – face of the party as reducing four on other members.

iii) Reserved seats for SCs, STs and women (in future) will reduce the internal party democracy.

Reforms needed to address the challenges

Internal party democracy – elections, debates is made mandatory in party manifests by ECI

Internal party reservation for vulnerable section.

Equal distribution of seats among the members based on their status

Selection of party president based on consensus of members.

Strict rules on dejection.

Internal party democracy will ensure focus of members on the justice of the citizens, rather internal politics. It will also help to support genuine and strong candidates

— Aditya Agarwal