AAP now national party; How is a ‘national party’ in India defined

CategoryPolity

Last Updated12/04/2023

Recently, The Election Commission recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party, while revoking that status of the All-India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).
The Commission also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram.
Remaining National Party: The BJP, Indian National Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People’s Party (NPP) and the AAP.

The one that has a presence ‘nationally’, as opposed to a regional party whose presence is restricted to only a particular state or region.
National parties are usually India’s bigger parties, such as the Congress and BJP.
However, some smaller parties, like the communist parties, are also recognised as national parties.
Some parties, despite being dominant in a major state and having a major say in national affairs, remain regional parties

The ECI has laid down the technical criterion for a party to be recognised as a national party.
A party may gain or lose national party status from time to time, depending on the fulfilment of these laid-down conditions.
A political party would be considered a national party if:
- it is ‘recognised’ in four or more states; or
- If its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls;
- If it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.
To be recognised as a state party, a party needs:
- At least 6% vote-share in the last Assembly election and have at least 2 MLAs; or
- have 6% vote-share in the last Lok Sabha elections from that state and at least one MP from that state; or
- at least 3% of the total number of seats or three seats, whichever is more, in the last Assembly elections; or
- at least one MP for every 25 members or any fraction allotted to the state in the Lok Sabha; or
- have at least 8% of the total valid votes in the last Assembly election or Lok Sabha election from the state.

The AAP is in power with big majorities in Delhi and Punjab.
In the Goa Assembly elections in March last year, it received 6.77% of the vote.
This meant that going into the Gujarat-Himachal elections towards the end of 2022, the party already fulfilled the criteria for recognition as a state party in three states.
It then required 6% of the vote in the Assembly elections in either Himachal or Gujarat to be recognised in a fourth state — which would qualify it for recognition as a national party.

Ensures that the election symbol of that party can't be used by any other political party in polls across India.
Requires only one proposer to file nomination.
These are given two sets of electoral rolls free of cost by the Election Commission.
In addition to this the candidates contesting on the ticket of National or state party get a copy of the electoral roll free of cost during the general elections.
They receive land or building from the government to establish their party office.
They can have upto 40 star campaigners while other can have upto 20 star campaigners.
The expenditure incurred on the travelling and other expenses of star campaigners is not included in the election expenditure of the party candidate.
They get the time slot on the national and state television & Radio to address the people and convey their message to the mass people

Political parties are essential institutions of democracy.
By competing in elections parties offer citizens a choice in governance, and while in opposition they can hold governments accountable.
Therefore, Recognition of a party as national party will provide , advantages of national party which will help in improving the accountability and transparency in the current government through debate, discussion and support.