AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Opponents claim parties only divide society, but these divisions are both inevitable and necessary for democracy to function.
First, parties reflect real divisions that already exist in society — on policies, interests, and values. Rather than creating these divisions, parties give them organised expression. A party "reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions," making governance possible.
Second, competition between parties ensures the opposition voices different views and criticises government failures, holding power accountable. Without this, there is no check on the ruling group.
Third, parties aggregate opinions: without them, every candidate would be independent, unable to make policy promises, and no one would be responsible for how the country is run.
Fourth, parties shape public opinion and provide citizens — especially ordinary people — access to government machinery and welfare schemes.
In short, the divisions parties create channel social conflict into peaceful, electoral competition, which is the very foundation of democratic politics.
Source: Chapter 4 — Functions and Necessity sections
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The examiner expects you to use the textbook's listed functions (contesting elections, aggregating opinions, opposition role, shaping public opinion, providing access) as direct evidence in your counter-argument — not just list them, but link each to why division is necessary. The key insight the textbook gives is that parties reflect pre-existing social divisions and organise them productively. Also note the "imagining a situation without parties" argument from the Necessity section — that's a strong point to include. Avoid vague statements; tie every point to a specific function.