The correct option is 1, 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
A political party is an organized group of citizens who share similar political views and come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. Structurally, a political party is defined by three distinct internal components that ensure its functioning and outreach.
Statement 1 is Correct: The Leaders form the highest tier of the party hierarchy. They are responsible for formulating policies, making major executive decisions, and selecting candidates to contest elections.
Statement 2 is Correct: The Active Members are those involved in the day-to-day operations of the party. They participate in party committees, organize campaigns, and act as a vital link between the leadership and the general public.
Statement 3 is Correct: The Followers constitute the support base of the party. These are ordinary citizens who believe in the party’s ideology and support it through voting and public opinion, without being actively involved in organizational tasks.
Statement 4 is Incorrect: The Election Commission representatives are officials of the Election Commission of India, an autonomous constitutional authority. Their role is to regulate, recognize, and monitor political parties to ensure free and fair elections; they are external regulators and not a constituent part of the political party itself.
Key Takeaway: The three fundamental components of a political party are the Leaders, the Active Members, and the Followers.