National Party in India

National Parties in India:

Why in News?

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gets Status a 'National Party' by the Election Commission of India.

On April 10, 2023, the Election Commission of India withdrew the national party status of:

Trinamool Congress (TMC),

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Nation and

the Communist Party of India (CPI).

 

Election Commission Decision Based On:

The EC's decision was based on a review of the parties' poll performances- -the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 21 state assembly polls since 2014.

 

AAP Performance:

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), founded in 2012. Besides Delhi, Goa and Punjab, AAP became a state party in Gujarat after the 2022 Assembly elections where it secured 12.92% of the votes. It was recognized as a national party in 2023 due to its electoral performance in several states. 

 

India Now has Six National Parties:

(1) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

(2) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

(3) National People's Party (NPP)

(4) Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)

(5) Communist Party of India (Marxist)

(6) Indian National Congress (INC)

 

Criteria for recognition as a National Party:

As per the ECI’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 handbook, a political party would be considered a national party if it fulfils any one of the below conditions:

 

1. If it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.
2. If its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls.
3. It is ‘recognised’ in four or more states as a state party (AAP fulfil this criteria).

 

History of National Parties in India:

• In first general elections (1951-52), there were 14 national parties, including the Indian National Congress, the All-India Bharatiya Jan Sangh, and the Communist Party of India.
• After the first general elections, there were only four national parties: the Congress, the Praja Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India, and the Jana Sangh.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was founded in 1980, which become one of the major national parties in India.
• The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) emerged as a national party in 1984, which was majorly for upliftment of marginalized communities.
• The Communist Party of India (Marxist) focuses on socialism, secularism, and democracy  to became a national party in 1964.

 

Practice MCQ:

Que. Consider the following Statements;

1.  India Now has Six National Parties.

2. National Party recognised by Government of India.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) None of these

Answer (a)

 

Que. Recently, the Election Commission of India withdrew the national party status of:

a) Communist Party of India (CPI)

b) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

c) Communist Party of India (Marxist)

d) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

Answer (a)