India has a multi-party system. The Election Commission of India (ECI) accord 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), if 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] 58 state parties,[2][b] and 2,763 unrecognised parties.[7] 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 fulfills any one of the three conditions listed below:[8]
The party wins two per cent (11 seats) seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states.
At a general election to Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, 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 gets recognition as a state party in four states.
A registered party is recognised as a state party only if it fulfils any one of the five conditions listed below:[8]
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.
At least one MP for every 25 members or any fraction allotted to the state in the Lok Sabha. [9]
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.
^If a party is recognised as a national or state party, its symbol is reserved for its exclusive use in the country or in the state.[1][2]
^ abThere were 60 state parties listed in publication issued by the Election Commission of India on 23 March 2024. However 2 out of 60 parties (Rashtriya Lok Samata Party[3] and People's Democratic Front[4]) have merged with other parties. Additionally, the name and symbol of Lok Janshakti Party has been frozen until final order is passed by ECI regarding its split into two new parties.[5] After winning 21/21 contested seats (equal to 13% of the seats in the legislative assembly) in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Janasena Party achieved the recognised party status.[6]
^Price, P. (1996). Revolution and Rank in Tamil Nationalism. The Journal of Asian Studies, 55(2), 359-383. doi:10.2307/2943363
^Pamela Price (1999) Relating to leadership in the Tamil nationalist movement: C.N. Annadurai in person‐centred propaganda, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 22:2, 149-174, doi:10.1080/00856409908723369
^"One year of Telangana a mixed bag for KCR". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), led by Chandrasekhar Rao, took over the reins of the new state amid euphoria and high expectations. ... Blending boldness with populism, KCR has earned the reputation for being a tough task master
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. ISBN81-7036-809-X (India HB) ISBN0-7619-9344-4 (U.S. HB).
Subrata K. Mitra, Mike Enskat, Clemens Spiess (eds.). 2004. Political Parties in South Asia. Greenwood: Praeger.
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