The Discrete Charms of Ideology (and Why AAP Needs One) Neera Chandoke https://thewire.in/politics/the-discrete-charms-of-ideology-and-why-aap-needs-one
A party without an ideology is a party that is frankly instrumental. It can go this way or that. We do not know its beliefs are, or whether it understands what should be done for citizens and what should not be done to them, what its understanding of human nature is, and above all how the party proposes to create a good life. The ideology of a political party must tell us what is wrong with our current predicament, how these predicaments can be overcome normatively, and what it aims to do in terms of protecting human dignity. It has to be critical and prescriptive at the same time.
As long as AAP shies away from taking a stand on basic democratic rights, the party will remain a service provider, which also fights elections.
Democracy imposes responsibilities on political parties in many ways, but above all, a party cannot be democratic unless it practises inner-party democracy.
Political parties must listen to social movements when they speak, support them, object to arbitrary arrests, defend and protect minorities, expand the meaning of democracy beyond majoritarianism and aim for a good society. This is the function of ideology. Certain things must not be done to people.