Election Commission order : AAP gets national party tag
Recently the Election Commission of India (ECI) has given the status of national party to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 lays down the criteria for grant of recognition as a national or state party.
At present there are six national political parties now recognized by the ECI under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
There are six recognized national parties: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI) (Marxist), National People’s Party (NPP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
National party status has been withdrawn from Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Communist Party of India (CPI).
The Election Commission has taken the above decision after reviewing the performance of political parties in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 21 State Legislative Assembly elections since 2014.
How is the national party status of a party determined?
- Votes in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assembly Elections: That party must get at least 6% of the votes in four or more states in Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly elections. In addition, there should be at least four members of that party in the Lok Sabha.
- Seats in Lok Sabha: That party should get at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats and candidates for these seats should be from at least three states.
- It should be recognized as a state party in at least four states.
What are the benefits of national party status?
- Its reserved symbol is exclusively allotted to the candidates set up by it throughout India.
- Only one person is required to propose the name of a candidate so that he can file the nomination.
- Broadcasting facilities are available on All India Radio/Doordarshan during general elections.
- It can nominate a maximum of 40 star campaigners, while other parties are only allowed to nominate a maximum of 20 star campaigners.
Source – Business Standard
