National and State Parties

• 10 Dec 2022

For Prelims: Election Commission of India, Declaration of national and state parties, registered- unrecognised parties, Representation of People Act 1951

For Mains: Procedure of recognition of political parties as national or state

Why in News?

Recently, the Aam Aadmi Party became the 9^th National Party of India after the result of Gujarat elections where it gained almost 13% of the vote share.

• At the time of the first General Elections (1952), there were 14 national parties in India.

Note

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance.
• The other parties are simply declared as registered-unrecognised parties.
  • As per the Representation of People Act 1951, Registered political parties, in course of time, can get recognition as 'State Party’ or National Party’.

What is a National Party?

• About: As the name suggests, it has a nationwide presence as opposed to a regional party that is restricted to only a particular state or region.
  • A certain stature is sometimes associated with being a national party, but this does not necessarily translate into having a lot of national political influence.
• Conditions for Declaring a Party ‘National’:
  • As per the ECI’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 handbook, a political party would be considered a national party if:
    • It is ‘recognised’ in four or more states; or
    • If its candidates have secured at least 6% of total valid votes in at least 4 states (in latest Lok Sabha or Assembly elections) and the party has at least 4 MPs in the last LS polls; or
    • If it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the LS from at least 3 states.

How is a Party Declared a State Party?

• A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:
  • If it secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the respective state legislative assembly (state LA) and also, it wins 2 seats in the same state LA.
  • If it secures 6% of the total valid votes in the state at a general election to the LS; and also, it wins 1 seat in the LS from the same state.
  • If it wins 3% of seats in the LA at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly (whichever is more).
  • If it wins 1 seat in the LS for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the LS from the state concerned.
  • If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the LS from the state or to the State LA.

What is the Significance of Being Declared a National/State Party?

• A recognised party (national or state) has the right to certain privileges like allocation of the party symbols, provision of time for political broadcasts on the state-owned television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.
• These parties are allowed to have 40 “star campaigners” during the time of elections (the registered-unrecognised parties are allowed to have 20 “star campaigners”).
• Every national party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country. Even in the states where it is not contesting elections.
  • For a state party, the allotted symbol is exclusively reserved for its use in the state/s in which it is so recognised.

Source: IE