Six National Parties in India

The Election Commission of India (ECI) recognises a party as a 'National Party' under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. A party must fulfil any ONE of the following conditions:

Criteria for National Party Recognition:

1. Lok Sabha Seats Criterion: • Wins at least 2% of total Lok Sabha seats (i.e., at least 11 seats out of 543) • AND the seats are won from at least 3 different states

2. Vote Share Criterion (State Elections): • Gets at least 6% of valid votes in State Legislative Assembly elections in any 4 or more states • AND wins at least 4 Lok Sabha seats from anywhere in the country

3. State Party Criterion: • If a party is recognised as a State Party in at least 4 states, it can be declared a national party

Benefits of National Party Status: • Reserved election symbol — used across the country • Free airtime on Doordarshan and All India Radio during elections • Access to party offices at state headquarters • Star campaigners — a national party can designate up to 40 star campaigners (state party: up to 20)

Consequence of Not Meeting Criteria: • A party loses national party status if it fails to meet the criteria in the subsequent general elections • It may then be recognised as a state party in states where it retains sufficient vote share

As of 2023, the six national parties recognised by the ECI are:

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): • Founded: 1980 (successor to Bharatiya Jana Sangh, 1951) • Founder: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani • Ideology: Hindu nationalism (Hindutva), Integral Humanism, economic liberalism • Electoral symbol: Lotus • Currently: Ruling party at the Centre (since 2014); PM Narendra Modi

2. Indian National Congress (INC / Congress): • Founded: 28 December 1885 by A.O. Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and others • India's oldest political party • Ideology: Secularism, social democracy, Indian nationalism • Electoral symbol: Hand • Led India's freedom movement; governed India for the most years post-independence

3. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): • Founded: 14 April 1984 by Kanshi Ram • Ideology: Bahujan movement — social justice for Dalits, OBCs, tribals, and religious minorities • Electoral symbol: Elephant • Led by Mayawati; has been in power in Uttar Pradesh multiple times

4. Communist Party of India (Marxist) — CPI(M): • Founded: 1964 (split from Communist Party of India) • Ideology: Marxism-Leninism, communism, left-wing politics • Electoral symbol: Hammer, Sickle, and Star • Strong presence in Kerala and West Bengal; led 34-year Left Front government in West Bengal

5. Nationalist People's Party (NPP): • Recognised as a national party by ECI in 2024 based on its presence in Northeast India • Led by P.A. Sangma (founder); currently led by Conrad Sangma (Chief Minister of Meghalaya) • Strong base in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh • Ideology: Regional interests, indigenous people's rights

6. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC / TMC): • Founded: 1 January 1998 by Mamata Banerjee (split from INC) • Ideology: Populism, secularism, Bengali regionalism • Electoral symbol: Flowers and Grass • Currently ruling West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee is Chief Minister

Note: The status of national parties can change after each general election based on performance criteria.

National Party Status Changes Over the Years:

Parties that Lost National Party Status (Recent History): • Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — lost national party status in 2023 after the ECI ruling; now classified as state parties in specific states following the party split (Sharad Pawar faction and Ajit Pawar faction) • CPI (Communist Party of India) — also lost national party status in 2023 • National People's Party (NPP) was accorded national party status around this time based on Northeast performance

Parties with State Party Recognition: • Many major parties are recognised as 'State Parties' in specific states — this gives them reserved symbols and campaigner rights in those states • Example: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a state party in Delhi and Punjab; Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh; AIADMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu

ECI Role: • The Election Commission of India reviews party recognition status after every general election and state election • A party must submit its election results and vote share data for ECI review • ECI is an autonomous constitutional body under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution

Largest National Party by Members: • BJP is often cited as one of the world's largest political parties by registered membership

Role of National Parties in Indian Democracy:

1. National Mandate — National parties contest elections across India and seek a pan-India mandate, unlike regional parties that focus on specific states.

2. Coalition Governments — Since 1989, India has largely had coalition governments at the Centre, with national parties leading coalitions: • United Progressive Alliance (UPA) — led by INC (2004–2014) • National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — led by BJP (1999–2004, 2014–present)

3. Policy Influence — National parties set the policy agenda for the whole country, including economic policy, foreign policy, and defence.

4. Symbols of National Identity — National parties like INC have historical roots in India's freedom movement.

5. Electoral Competition — The presence of multiple national parties ensures democratic competition and voter choice.

Multi-Party System in India: • India has a multi-party system with 6 national parties and over 50 recognised state parties • Additionally, hundreds of registered but unrecognised parties contest elections • This reflects India's diversity — regional, linguistic, religious, and caste-based identities are represented through various parties

NCERT Reference: • Class 10 Political Science, Chapter 6 — Political Parties