Suggestions to reform political parties
(a) It should be made mandatory for political parties to regulate that internal affair. It should be made compulsory for political parties in maintain a register of its members and have periodic elections of office bearers.
(b) Parties should be asked to nominate women candidates for at least one-third of the seats in elections.
(c) Ordinary citizens, media, and movements can play an important role by pressurizing parties to bring in reforms in their functioning.

Introduction:
Political parties play a crucial role in the functioning of a democratic system. They are responsible for representing the interests and ideologies of the citizens, formulating policies, and providing leadership. However, political parties often face numerous challenges that hinder their effectiveness. To strengthen political parties and enhance their performance, several reforms can be implemented.

Reforms to strengthen political parties:

1. Enhancing internal democracy:
- Introducing internal party elections: Parties should hold regular and fair elections to select their leaders and candidates for public office. This will ensure that positions of power are not concentrated in a few hands and promote inclusivity within the party.
- Promoting transparency: Parties should disclose their sources of funding and make their decision-making processes more transparent. This will enhance accountability and prevent corruption within party ranks.

2. Promoting party ideology:
- Clearly defining party ideologies: Political parties should clearly articulate their ideologies and policy positions to attract like-minded individuals and provide a distinct choice for voters.
- Educating party members: Parties should invest in educating their members about the party's ideology, values, and policy agenda. This will help maintain party coherence and ensure that members effectively advocate for the party's positions.

3. Strengthening grassroots organizations:
- Empowering local party branches: Parties should focus on building strong local party organizations that can effectively engage with citizens, understand their concerns, and mobilize support.
- Training and capacity building: Parties should invest in training programs for their members, especially at the grassroots level. This will enhance their skills in organizing campaigns, mobilizing voters, and formulating effective policies.

4. Encouraging youth participation:
- Youth wings and outreach programs: Parties should establish dedicated youth wings to engage and empower young individuals. They should also organize outreach programs, such as workshops and conferences, to involve youth in policy discussions and decision-making processes.
- Introducing reserved seats for youth: Parties can consider reserving a certain percentage of seats for young candidates in party elections and public offices. This will encourage the active participation of youth in party affairs.

5. Electoral reforms:
- Introducing campaign finance regulations: Parties should support the implementation of campaign finance regulations to prevent the influence of money in politics. This will create a level playing field for all parties and reduce the role of wealthy individuals or corporations in shaping the political landscape.
- Implementing proportional representation: Proportional representation systems can be adopted to ensure that the composition of legislative bodies reflects the actual vote share of different parties. This will encourage the representation of diverse political viewpoints and strengthen the multi-party system.

Conclusion:
Implementing these reforms will help strengthen political parties and enable them to perform their functions effectively. By enhancing internal democracy, promoting party ideology, strengthening grassroots organizations, encouraging youth participation, and introducing electoral reforms, political parties can better represent the interests of citizens, formulate inclusive policies, and provide effective leadership. These reforms will contribute to the overall health and vibrancy of democratic systems.