Political parties need to face and overcome the challenge of dynastic succession to remain effective instruments of democracy because of the following reasons.
(a) As most political parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary workers to rise at the top in a party.
(b) Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members.
(c) Thus, in many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family.  This is unfair to other members of that party.
(d) This is very negative for democracy, since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy position of power.

(a) Group together a large number of similar opinions, thereby providing a direction in which policies can be formulated (b) Contest elections, providing the voters a choice between different policies
(c) Winning party forms and runs the government
(d) Losing parties form the opposition, and keep a check on the working of the government
(e) Playa decisive role in making laws, especially by debating them in the legislature.
(f) Shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues
(g) Provide people a way to access government machinery and welfare schemes

Political parties need to face and overcome the growing challenge of Money and Muscle power during elections in order to remain effective instruments of democract. Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win elections, for example, like booth-rigging, distribution of food, money, alcohol, etc. to the poor voters to get their votes. Political parties tend to nominate those candidate who have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. These days, parties are supporting criminals who can win elections. This is a major cause of concern to the democrats all over the world who are worried about the increasing role of rich people and big companies in democratic politics.

(i) The constitution was amended (Anti-Defection Act) to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards.
(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property.

(i) There is lack of internal democracy within parties. There is generally concentration of powers in one or few leaders at the top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not keep hold organisational meeting, and do not conduct internal elections regularly.
(ii) Dynastic succession does not allow ordinary workers to rise to the top in the party. Where top positions are controlled by the members of one family, it is bad for democracy since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come to occupy positions of power.
(iii) The growing role of money and muscle power in parties pose another challenge especially during the time of elections. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.
(iv) Parties, very often, do not offer a meaningful choice to the voters. In recent years, there has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties. Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.

(i) When an elected MP or MLA changes his party, it is called Defection.
(ii) An affidavit is a signed document submitted to an officer, where a person makes a sworn statement regarding her/his personal information. In the case of politics, a candidate has to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.

The four challenges are:
(i) Lack of internal democracy within parties.
(ii) Challenge of dynastic power
(iii) Money and muscle power
(iv) Dynastic succession means that the power remains in the hands of a few.
They pass on this power to their family members, who may not have popular support or enough experience in politics and governance. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family and this tendency is present to some extent all over the world even in older democracies. Examples : USA, India.

A party that secures 6% all of the total votes cast in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats in the state is called a state party. A party that wins 6% of total votes caste in the elections for Lok Sabha or Assembly Elections in four states and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is called a national party.

The various roles of the opposition parties in a democracy are listed as follows - 
(a) It acts like a watchdog of democracy. It keeps a check on the role of the Government (Ruling Party) and restircts them from misusing the power.
(b) It provides to the people alternative policies and keeps them aware of the failure of the Government in performing their duties or making wrong policies.
(c) The opposition is always a viable alternative to the ruling government.

Various challenges faced by political parties are
(i) The parties are lacking internal democracy, which keeps many prospective leaders deprived of their rights.
(ii) There have been dynastic successions in many political parties. This often deprives the parties of appropriate leadership.
(iii) The parties sometimes involve in the use of money and muscle power for winning elections. This slow down development and is against the spirit of democracy.
(iv) Different political parties do not have significant ideological differences among them. So, there is a lack of meaningful choice before the voters.

Laws made to regulate internal politics:  
(a) It should be compulsory to maintain a register of its members.
(b) It should hold independent inquiry in case of a party dispute.
(c) It should hold open elections to top party posts.
(d) It should be mandatory to give 1/3 party tickets to women candidates.
(e) There should be a quota for women in decision making bodies.
(f) The government or the state should help parties during elections by funding them.
(g) Expenses for petrol, paper, telephone etc., should be given. (h) Cash can be given on the basis of votes secured by the party in the last elections.

Main functions of a political party are:
(1) To contest elections
In democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by different political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways. In India top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
(2) Forming policies and programmes
Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.
(3) Making laws
When parties come into power, they make laws for the country. Formally laws are debated and passed in the Legislature. Members of the ruling party follow the directions of the party leaders, irrespective of their personal opinions.
(4) Parties form and run government
Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run government in the way they want.
(5) Role of opposition Parties that lose in elections, play the role of opposition to the parties in power by criticizing the government for its failure or wrong policies.
(6) Shaping public opinion
They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lot of members and activities spread all over the country. Many of the pressure groups are extension of political parties among different sections of the society. Parties, sometimes also launch movements for the resolutions of problems faced by people.
(7) Access to government machinery and welfare schemes
For any ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer. That is why they feel close to the parties even when they do not fully trust them. Parties have to respective to people's needs and demands.

The Constitution of India and the Election Commission of India suggest reforms in political parties.

Tamil Nadu has maximum number of recognised regional or state parties.

The Bahujan Samaj Party was formed under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.

The term coalition government implies a government which is formed by various parties coming together in the situation in the situation when no single party wins the majority of seats.

The following are the three elements of a political party.
(a) The leaders: The leaders contest elections and, if they win, perform the administrative jobs.
(b) The active members: The active members attend party meetings and are close to the party leaders.  They can be called the assistants of the leaders.
(c) The followers: The followers are the dedicated workers of the party.  They work under the active members.