In India most of the political parties are unwilling to institutionalise procedures for the selection of office-bearers.
This raises the concerns of lack of internal democracy within the parties.
What are the concerns?
Electing the chiefs - Many political parties in India has charges of dynastic politics and the lack of internal democracy in the party.
Although election of the party president cannot be the sole criteria for judging intraparty democracy, political parties view the matter only through the procedure of electing the chiefs.
Nominating the presidents - Most of the presidents of the political parties in India have come through the selection or nomination route.
The nominations are mostly influenced by some external forces which have larger say in finance and caste (or) religion.
This is in contrast to the rise of its party workers to top echelons to project itself as a party with a difference.
Centralised power -Most parties are subservient to one supreme leader who can impose his/her offspring on the party.
And even electoral defeat does not loosen their control or hold over the party.
Such leaders are valued for their capacity to attract crowds and raise funds as elections become more and more expensive.
Lack of institutionalisation -Most of the political parties still refuse to lay down settled and predictable procedures for almost everything they do, from the selection of candidates to the framing of a manifesto.
What are its impacts on true democracy?
Selection of candidates, Chief Ministers and office-bearers of party units are usually left to the discretion of few leaders who take decisions behind closed doors.
This has proved detrimental to the political system.
This is because it impedes the growth of broad-based non-sectarian parties which can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interests.
Also party funds being raised and controlled centrally, weakens the State units and rank and file vis-à-vis the central leadership.
This control has an impact on a range of issues including leadership selection and nominations for elections.
