The Election Commission of India certified the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party while stripping the All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of India of their recognition. (CPI).
What exactly is a National Party?
- The name implies that a national party is one that is present ‘nationally,’ as opposed to a regional party, which is only present in one state or region.
- National parties are typically India’s largest political parties.
- Some minor parties, such as communist parties, are regarded as national parties as well.
- Being a national party of a specific stature is sometimes associated with having a lot of national political weight, but this is not always the case.
What is the definition of a political party?
- The following criteria are specified in the ECI’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 handbook:
- The following conditions must be met in order to be recognised as a NATIONAL PARTY: a 6% vote share in the most recent Assembly polls in each of any four states, as well as four seats in the most recent Lok Sabha polls; or 2% of all Lok Sabha seats in the most recent such election, with MPs elected from at least three states; or Recognition as a state party in at least four states.
Any one of five conditions must be met in order to be recognised as a STATE PARTY:
- Two seats plus a 6% vote share in the state’s last Assembly election; or one seat plus a 6% vote share in the state’s last Lok Sabha election; or 3% of total Assembly seats or 3 seats, whichever is greater; or one of every 25 Lok Sabha seats (or an equivalent fraction) from a state; or an 8% state-wide vote share in either the last Lok Sabha or the last Assembly polls.
Advantages for recognised parties
This is subject to the Commission’s fulfilment of the conditions outlined in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
(a) Sybol Reserved
- If a party is designated as a “state party,” it is entitled to the exclusive use of its reserved symbol for the candidates it establishes in the state in which it is designated.
- If a party is designated as a “national party,” it is entitled to the exclusive use of its reserved symbol for the candidates it selects throughout India.
(b) Nomination proposer
- Nominations for recognised ‘state’ and ‘national’ parties require only one proposer.
(c) The advantages of campaigning
- During general elections, they are also entitled to two sets of electoral rolls free of charge, as well as broadcast/telecast services on the state-owned Akashvani/Doordarshan.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/aap-how-is-a-national-party-in-india-defined-8549168/#:~:text=The%20Election%20Commission%20Monday%20recognised,Party%20of%20India%20(CPI).