Importance / functions of political parties in Indian democracy :
1. Contest elections - Parties select their candidates and contest elections. In India the top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
2. Formulate policies and programmes - Parties put forward different policies and programmes and voters choose from them. A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports.
3. Make laws - Laws are debated and passed in the legislature. Since members belong to parties, they go by the direction of the party leadership, irrespective of their personal opinions.
4. Form and run governments - Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government the way they want.
5. Play the role of opposition - Parties that lose elections form the opposition. They voice different views, criticise the government for its failures and mobilise opposition to it.
6. Shape public opinion - Parties raise and highlight issues. With their lakhs of members and activists and their pressure groups, they shape public opinion.
7. Provide access to government machinery - For an ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer; parties also implement welfare schemes.
Conclusion : Democracy on a large scale is impossible without political parties - they are the necessary link between the people and the government.