CONTEXT-
– The Aam Aadmi Party to be recognized as a national party by the election commission of India (ECI). There are six such now- is a creditable achievement for the parties who that emerged out
of a popular civil society movement during the United Progressive Alliance’s tenure.
– Repetitive victories in Delhi and capturing Punjab, to registering respectable votes shares in Gujrat and Goa. The party has grown into an electoral alternative in some states.
– This has allowed it to cross the threshold set by the ECI for “national party” recognition.
– Three other parties have lost their “national party” tag- the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Trinamool Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
– There are six national parties in the country-AAP, BSP, BJP, Congress,CPI-M,NPP-National People Party(First national party from the northeast)
ECI recognise a national party by following criteria listed below-
A political party is recognized as a national party if it meets any one of three conditions outlined by Election Symbol (Reservation and allotment) order 1968.
– At least 6% of the votes cast in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly election and it must also have at least four Lok Sabha members.
– At least 2% of Lok Sabha seats and has candidates from at least three states.
– At least four states recognized it as a state party.
– Symbol Order of 1968 was amended in 2016 to give the parties one additional “pass over”-if a National or state party cannot fulfil their status in next general elections or assembly
Election, their status will not be stripped out. After the subsequent election would again have to be determined their status.
The Advantages of being a national policy-
1. As a national party, reserved party symbols.
2. Candidate gets more coverage on state run television and radio.
3. Consultation in the setting of election dates and giving input in setting electoral rules and regulation
4. A national party can run in elections across the country and field candidate in any state, allowing it to broaden its support and influence.
5. A national party can engage 40-star campaigner. Star campaigner travelling expenses are not included in election expense accounts of the party.
6. A party having national status receives land from government to build its headquarters.
7. National parties must have only one proposer in order to submit a nomination. During roll revision they are provided with two free sets of electoral rolls. They also get one free electoral
roll for each candidate during the general election.
Deregistration of political parties: –
1. It means cancellation of registration of party and cannot contest any elections.
2. ECI is not empowered to deregister parties.
Ground of deregistration
– Registration is obtained by fraud
– It is declared illegally by central govt.
– A party amends its internal constitution and notifies that it can no longer abide by the Indian constitution.
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