NEW DELHI: In what may be a major reprieve for the BSP, the NCP and the CPI, the Election Commission on Monday amended rules, whereby it will review the national and state status of political parties every 10 years instead of the present five. The BSP, the CPI and the NCP were facing the prospect of losing their national party status after their dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The EC had served them notices in 2014 on the issue. An EC notification said that, while the criteria of being recognised as a national and state party will remain unchanged, the review of the status will take place after every two consecutive Lok Sabha or Assembly elections instead of one.
This means that the review will take place every ten years. The EC amended paragraph 6C of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to affect the change. It was last amended in 2011. This change in rules will ensure that ruling parties do not lose their status due to anti-incumbency factor after every election.
At present, the BSP, the BJP, the Indian National Congress, the NCP, the CPI and the CPI(M) are the six recognised national political parties. Besides, there are 64 recognised state parties in India. Recognition as a national or a state party ensures that the election symbol of that party is not used by any other political entity in polls across India. At present, the BSP, the BJP, the Indian National Congress, the NCP, the CPI and the CPI(M) are the 6 recognised national political parties.
