AAP gets national party status

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Key updates-

• In separate orders, the Election Commission also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA (Manipur), PMK (Puducherry), RSP (West Bengal) and MPC (Mizoram).
• In its announcement, the Election Commission also said that the NCP and Trinamool Congress will be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya, respectively, based on their performance in the recently concluded assembly elections.

What is the national party status?

• The Election Commission lists political parties as “national party”, “state party” or “registered (unrecognised) party”.
• The conditions for being listed as a national or a state party are specified under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

• For recognition as a national party, the conditions specified under Paragraph 6B of the 1968 Order are:

1. 6% vote share in the last Assembly polls in each of any 4 states, as well as 4 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
2. 2% of all Lok Sabha seats in the last such election, with MPs elected from at least 3 states; or
3. Recognition as a state party in at least 4 states.

• Once recognised as a national or a state party, a political party retains that status irrespective of its performance in the next elections. 
• It loses the given status only if it fails to fulfill any of the conditions for two successive Assembly and two successive Lok Sabha elections.
• An important advantage of being recognized is getting the reserved symbol, which plays a vital role in elections. 
• For National Parties, the reserved symbol can be used across the country by its contesting candidates.
• The other advantages to the recognized parties are subsidized land for party offices, free air time on Doordarshan & All India Radio, supply of electoral roll copies free of cost during elections etc.

What a Party Loses After Losing ‘National’ Status?

The Election Commission holds the authority to strip national parties of the coveted status. Once this is done –

• The party symbol will not be visible at the beginning of the EVM or ballot paper.
• The particular party may or may not be invited to attend Election Commission meetings.
• The political funding of the party may be affected.
• The party may not be allowed to connect to the masses through Doordarshan and All India Radio.
• The number of star campaigners will be reduced from 40 to 20 during elections.
• The party will have to use a separate symbol to contest elections in states.

List of National Parties in India now-

Following the rejig by the Election Commission, below is the list of national parties in India now-

1. Aam Aadmi Party.
2. Bahujan Samaj Party.
3. Bharatiya Janata Party.
4. Communist Party of India (Marxist).
5. Indian National Congress.
6. National People’s Party (NPP).

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