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EC reviews national party status of NCP
The Election Commission held a hearing to review the national party status of Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.
New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday held a hearing to review the national party status of Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), people familiar with the matter said.
“The election commission takes a review (of national status) after every five years. A hearing for the same was held today (Tuesday),” senior NCP leader Praful Patel, who attended the hearing at the EC’s office in Delhi, said.
Patel, however, did not elaborate on details of the hearing.
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EC officials said the poll panel will now begin deliberations on whether the NCP meets the criteria to retain national party status.
The national party status gives a number of advantages 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.
This is not first time the EC has initiated such proceedings. Following the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it had issued notices to several political parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), NCP, and Trinamool Congress (TMC), asking them to explain why their national party status should continue. The poll body, however, put on hold its plans to scrap their status.
According to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a political party can be recognised as a national party if it fulfils any of the following three conditions: First, it should secure at least 6% of votes polled in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections, and, in addition, it has at least four members in the Lok Sabha. 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.
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Currently, there are national parties registered with EC. They are, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, TMC, BSP, CPI, Communist Party of India (Marxist), NCP and the National People’s Party (NPP).
Currently, NCP has 53 legislators in Maharashtra, seven MLAs in Nagaland and two in Kerala. Besides, it has four MPs from Maharashtra and one from Lakshadweep.
(With inputs from Faisal Malik)
