NEW DELHI: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party’s victory in the 2022 Punjab elections has brought the reasonably-new political outfit closer to attain the coveted status of a ‘national party’. Seven political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, currently enjoy the status of a national party, as per data from the Election Commission of India.
A national party can use its unique symbol to fight all elections, is eligible for a party office in Delhi, and is also entitled to two sets of electoral rolls free of cost at the time of revision of rolls, and their candidates get one copy of electoral roll free of cost during general elections.
Such parties also get broadcast/telecast facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections. A recognised national party can also nominate up to 40 ‘star campaigners’ during general elections.
The criteria to become a national party includes bagging at least 6% of the valid vote share in any four or more states, in Lok Sabha or state assembly elections. Kejriwal’s party got 54% vote share in the last Delhi assembly elections. It currently has 42% vote share in Punjab and 6.77% vote share in Goa. In Uttarakhand, AAP so far has 3.4% vote share and just 0.3% in Uttar Pradesh.
In addition to that, a national party also needs to win at least four seats in the House of the People from any state or states. AAP has just one Member of Parliament — Bhagwant Mann — in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}In addition to that, a national party also needs to win at least four seats in the House of the People from any state or states. AAP has just one Member of Parliament — Bhagwant Mann — in the Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}AAP’s next chance to gain the status of a national party might come as early as in December this year when Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh go for polls.
A party can also be recognised as a national party if it wins at least two per cent seats in the Lok Sabha, provided these members are elected from at least three different states.
Apart from the BJP and the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), CPI, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party are the other ‘recognised’ political parties in India.