4.2.2. Two-party system

In a democracy, any group of citizens is free to form a political party. In this formal sense, there are a large number of political parties in each country. More than 750 parties are registered with the Election Commission of India. But not all these parties are serious contenders in the elections. Usually only a handful of parties are effectively in the race to win elections and form the government.

In a democratic system, citizens can freely form political parties. For example, as per the Election Commission of India, there are over 750 registered parties. However, only a few are serious about contesting elections and forming a government. Most often, the political landscape is dominated by a small number of significant parties, while the vast majority of registered parties remain inactive or have little influence.

Imagine a local sports tournament where many teams are registered, but only a few of them show up to play and actually compete. This scenario is similar to how many political parties exist in theory, but only a handful actively participate and impact governance.

In some countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-party systems. In Class IX, we noted that in China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule. Although, legally speaking, people are free to form political parties, it does not happen because the electoral system does not permit free competition for power.

Countries like China exemplify one-party systems, where only one political party, such as the Communist Party, holds power. This approach restricts the formation of other parties and limits competition, leading to a lack of genuine democratic practices. Although the law allows for the formation of parties, the existing electoral structure can stifle competition, rendering the formation of alternative parties ineffective.

Consider a school where only one club, let’s say the 'Science Club', is allowed to organize events, and no other clubs can form. Even if students want to start new clubs like 'Drama' or 'Art', they can’t because the school rules say only the Science Club can run activities. Similarly, in a one-party system, citizens may want to form new political parties, but the rules prevent them from doing so.

In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. Such a party system is called a two-party system. The United States of America and the United Kingdom are examples of two-party systems.

A two-party system is characterized by two dominant political parties that regularly compete for power. In the USA and UK, elections are primarily contested between these two parties, making it difficult for smaller parties to gain traction. In this system, citizens generally choose between the two, as they have a greater chance of influencing the government by supporting one of the major parties.

Think of a well-known annual contest, like the Super Bowl, where only two teams compete for the championship. Fans mostly support either of the two teams, knowing that it’s unlikely for an unseeded team to join the finals. Similarly, in a two-party system, voters typically rally behind one of the two major parties.

If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a multiparty system. Thus in India, we have a multiparty system.

In a multiparty system, multiple political parties exist and compete for power. Countries like India exemplify this system, where various parties can collaborate in alliances to contend for government positions. As a result, governments may often be formed through coalitions, accommodating a broader array of interests and perspectives than just two dominant parties.

Imagine a local election with ten candidates competing. Each candidate represents different views and ideas. Voters can choose from this diverse selection, and candidates can form alliances, much like how parties form coalitions in a multiparty system. This diversity reflects the various opinions present in the society.

Perhaps the best answer to this very common question is that this is not a very good question. Party system is not something any country can choose. It evolves over a long time, depending on the nature of society, its social and regional divisions, its history of politics and its system of elections.

The type of party system in any country is not something that can be arbitrarily selected; it develops over a significant period, shaped by societal factors, historical contexts, and existing electoral frameworks. As such, the party system reflects the unique identity of a nation, and no single system is universally suitable for all.

Just as regions develop unique cultures based on their history and lifestyle, party systems also evolve based on the variety of factors present in a society. For instance, regions with distinct ethnic groups often form political structures that reflect their unique identities and demands.

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