Rules for recognition as national and State party 

(MainsGS2:Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.)

Context:

• Recently,  The Election Commission of India (ECI) accorded  the status of a national party to the Aam Aadmi Party. while withdrawing the same for the Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India, and the Nationalist Congress Party.

Recognised as a national party:

• With the removal of NCP, CPI, and TMC, there are now only six national parties in the country – BJP, Congress, National People’s Party, CPM, Bahujan Samaj Party and the latest addition AAP.
• The Election Commission reviews the poll performance of recognised parties after every State Assembly election or general election to the Lok Sabha.
• The rules for recognition as a national party are specified by the Commission in para 6B of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• A party becomes eligible to be accorded national status if it fulfil one of the following conditions: (a) if it is recognised as a State party in at least four States. 
• (b) if it secures 6% of the total votes polled in four States in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, and in addition, gets four of its members elected to the Lok Sabha, or 
• (c) if it wins 2% of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different States.

Recognition as a State party:

• For recognition as a State party, it has to secure at least 6% of the valid votes polled and two seats in Assembly polls or one in Lok Sabha polls. 
• There are three other alternatives for eligibility- (a) in General Elections or Legislative Assembly elections, the party has to win 3% of seats in the legislative assembly of the State (subject to a minimum of 3 seats).
• (b) in a Lok Sabha General Election, the party has to win 1 Lok Sabha seat for every 25 Lok Sabha seats allotted for the State, or 
• (c) in a General Election to Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, the party has to poll 8% of votes in a State.

Benefits of recognition:

• A recognised political party enjoys privileges like a reserved party symbol, free broadcast time on State-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and giving input in setting electoral rules and regulations. 
• Candidates put up by registered but unrecognized political parties meanwhile are allotted election symbols by the Returning Officers of the concerned constituencies after the last date for withdrawal of candidature, as per availability, thus, the party cannot use a single poll symbol across the country.