How many national parties are at present in India?

The country has six national parties — BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), National People’s Party (NPP) and AAP.

The national parties are also known as all-India parties.

Who grants the status of being a national party?

The Election Commission under Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, as amended from time to time grants the status of being a national party.

What are the conditions for recognition as a national party?

At present , a party is recognised as a national party if any of the following conditions is fulfilled :

1 . If it secures six per cent of valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the legislative assembly; and, in addition, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states; or

2 . If it wins two per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha at a general election; and these candidates are elected from three states;or

3 . If it is recognised as a state party in four states.

What are the benefits of being recognised as a National Party?

1 . If a party is recognised as a National Party it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates set up by it throughout India.

2 . Recognised National parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination.

3 . They are entitled for 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.

4 . They get broadcast/telecast facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections.

5 . Political parties are entitled to nominate “Star Campaigners” during General Elections. A recognized National party can have a maximum of 40 “Star campaigners” .

6 . The travel expenses of star campaigners are not to be accounted for in the election expense accounts of candidates of their party.

Recognised National Parties (First to Seventeenth General Elections)

The number of recognised parties keeps on changing on the basis of their performance in the general elections. On the eve of the seventeenth Lok Sabha general elections (2019), there were 7 national parties

First (1952) – 14
Second (1957) – 4
Third (1962) – 6
Fourth (1967) – 7
Fifth (1971) – 8
Sixth (1977) – 5
Seventh (1980) – 6
Eighth (1984) – 7
Ninth (1989) – 8
Tenth (1991) – 9
Eleventh (1996) – 8
Twelfth (1998) – 7
Thirteenth (1999) – 7
Fourteenth (2004) – 6
Fifteenth (2009) – 7
Sixteenth (2014) – 6
Seventeenth (2019) – 7

Recognised National Parties and their Symbols

BJP – Lotus

Congress – Hand

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) – Elephant

CPI(M) – Hammer, Sickle and Star

National People’s Party (NPP) – Book

AAP – Broom

Must read: Features of party system in India

External link: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/election-commission-grants-national-party-status-to-aap-withdraws-status-of-trinamool-congress-cpi/article66721271.ece