India has a multi-party system. The Election Commission of India (ECI) accords to national-level and state-level political parties based upon objective criteria. A recognised political party enjoys privileges like a reserved party symbol,[a] free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and giving input in setting electoral rules and regulations. Other political parties that wish to contest local, state, or national elections are required to be registered by the Election Commission of India. Registered parties are upgraded as recognised national parties or state parties by the ECI if they meet the relevant criteria after a Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. The recognised party status is reviewed periodically by the ECI.
Before the amendment in 2016 (which came into force on 1 January 2014), in a political party failed to fulfill the criteria in the subsequent Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election, they lost their status as a recognised party. In 2016, the ECI announced that such a review would take place after two consecutive elections instead of every election. Therefore, a political party shall retain the recognised party status even if they do not meet the criteria in the next election. However, if they fail to meet the criteria in the subsequent election following the next election, they would lose their status.
As per latest publications dated 23 March 2024 from Election Commission of India, and subsequent notifications, there are 6 national parties,[1] 57 state parties,[2][b] and 2,764 unrecognised parties.[6] All registered parties contesting elections need to choose a symbol from a list of available symbols offered by the EC. All 28 states of the country along with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Puducherry have elected governments unless President's rule is imposed under certain condition.
National parties
A registered party is recognised as a national party only if it fulfils any one of the three conditions listed below:[7]
- The party gets recognition as a state party in four states.
- The party polls six per cent of votes in any four or more states and in addition it wins four Lok Sabha seats.
- The party wins at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.
.svg){kind=small}
Regional parties
A registered party is recognised as a state party only if it fulfils any one of the four conditions listed below:[7]
- A party should secure at least six per cent of valid votes polled in an election to the state legislative assembly and win at least two seats in that state assembly.
- A party should secure at least six per cent of valid votes polled in an election to Lok Sabha and win at least one seat in Lok Sabha.
- A party should win at least three per cent of the total number of seats or any fraction thereof allotted to that state.
- Under the liberalised criteria, one more clause that it will be eligible for recognition as state party if it secures eight per cent or more of the total valid votes polled in the state.
.svg){kind=small}
_Flag.png){kind=small}
_Flag.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
_flag.png){kind=small}
.jpg)
Unrecognised parties
This list does not show all the unrecognised parties, but only the notable ones. There are more than 2700 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties(RUPPs) in India.
Defunct political parties
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
- Subrata K. Mitra and V. B. Singh. 1999. Democracy and Social Change in India: but parties have to be 70per of decision A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate. New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 81-7036-809-X (India HB) ISBN 0-7619-9344-4 (U.S. HB).
- Subrata K. Mitra, Mike Enskat, Clemens Spiess (eds.). 2004. Political Parties in South Asia. Greenwood: Praeger.
- Political Parties, Democratic Politics II, Textbook in Political Science for Class X, NCERT