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Pressure groups do not participate directly in party politics. They can have the same ideology as a political party and can take a political position on important issues and can support a political party without standing for elections, etc. The relationship between political parties and pressure groups is both direct and indirect.

Pressure groups are often formed and led by politicians and political parties. Most trade unions and students’ organisations in India are either established by, or affiliated to one or the other major political party.  Political parties sometimes grow out of movements. Parties like DMK and AIADMK were formed this way.  Many a times, the issues raised by pressure or movement groups are taken up by political parties, leading to a change in the policies of the parties.