EC holds hearing to review NCP’s ‘national party’ status

“The election commission takes a review (of national status) every five years. A hearing for the same was held today,” senior NCP leader Praful Patel, who attended the hearing at EC’s Delhi office, said. Patel, however, did not elaborate on details of the hearing.

Mumbai/New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday held a hearing to review the national political party status of Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), people familiar with the matter said.

Mumbai, India - June 4, 2018: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar at his resident in Mumbai, India, on Monday, June 4, 2018. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times) (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

“The election commission takes a review (of national status) every five years. A hearing for the same was held today,” senior NCP leader Praful Patel, who attended the hearing at EC’s Delhi office, said. Patel, however, did not elaborate on details of the hearing.

Officials said the EC will now begin deliberations on whether the NCP meets the criteria to retain national party status.

The national party status comes with several perks such as a common party symbol across states, free airtime during elections on public broadcasters, space for a party office in New Delhi, among others.

According to rules, a political party can be recognised as a national party if it fulfils any of the three conditions: First, it should secure at least 6% of votes polled in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly polls, and, in addition, it has at least four Lok Sabha MPs. Second, it has at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats and its candidates come from not less than three states. Third, it is recognised as a state party in at least four states.

Currently, the BJP, Congress, TMC, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP and NPP are recognised as national political parties.

NCP first received such a notice back in August 2019 after it performed poorly in the Lok Sabha elections. Then, the party had requested the Election Commission to wait till the election results of Maharashtra assembly. The notice was issued following assessment of the party’s performance based on its results in two consecutive elections.