Criteria for Recognized National and State Parties

What’s in today’s article?

• What’s in today’s article?
• Why in news?
• National Party
• Criteria for National Party/State Party
• Benefits of being recognised as National Party
• News Summary: What perks are recognised national and state parties entitled to?
• What are national parties entitled to?

Why in news?

• Despite the allotment of bungalows being cancelled years ago, many recognised national and state parties continue their unauthorised occupation of the properties given to them.
  • This was revealed by the official records obtained under Right to Information.

Background:

• Among the many perks that recognised national and state parties enjoy is the allotment of land at subsidised rates for constructing their own offices.
• The recognised parties are supposed to vacate any government bungalows allotted to them as offices within three years of the land allotment or as soon as the building is constructed, whichever is earlier.
  • This is as per a 2006 policy of the Union government’s Land and Development Office (L&DO).

National Party

• The name suggests that a national party would be one that has a presence ‘nationally’, as opposed to a regional party whose presence is restricted to only a particular state or region.
• A certain stature is sometimes associated with being a national party, but this does not necessarily translate into having a lot of national political clout.
• On the other hand, some parties, despite being dominant in a major state and having a major say in national affairs, remain regional parties.
  • E.g., DMK in Tamil Nadu, BJD in Odisha, YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, RJD in Bihar, or TRS in Telangana.

Criteria for National Party/State Party

• The ECI has laid down the technical criterion for a party to be recognised as a national party.
• A party may gain or lose national party status from time to time, depending on the fulfilment of these laid-down conditions.
• As per the ECI’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 handbook, a political party would be considered a national party if:
  • it is recognised as state party in four or more states; or
  • if its candidates polled at least 6% of total valid votes in any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and has at least four MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
  • if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three states.
• To be recognised as a state party, a party needs:
  • at least 6% valid vote-share in the last Assembly election and have at least 2 MLAs; or have 6% valid vote-share in the last Lok Sabha elections from that state and at least one MP from that state; or
  • at least 3% of the total number of seats or three seats, whichever is more, in the last Assembly elections; or
  • at least one MP for every 25 members or any fraction allotted to the state in the Lok Sabha; or
  • have at least 8% of the total valid votes in the last Assembly election or Lok Sabha election from the state.

Benefits of being recognised as National Party

• Their election symbols are reserved for use by their candidates across the country;
  • If a party is recognised as a State Party, it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates in the State in which it is so recognised.
• They are eligible to get land in Delhi to build a party office;
• They can have up to 40 star campaigners instead of the 20 that registered but not recognised parties are allowed.
  • A star campaigner is a popular vote seeker in an election for a party.
  • There is no law defining the star campaigner.
  • They are nominated by the respective political parties and they follow guidelines issued by ECI under the Model Code of Conduct.
  • The expenditure on campaign and travel of star campaigners is not added to the candidate’s spending limit.
• Further, they get broadcast/telecast facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections.
• Recognised `State’ and `National’ parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination.

News Summary: What are national parties entitled to?

• Land allotment policy for political parties
  • In 2006, the Land and Development Office (L&DO) laid down the land allotment policy for political parties.
  • As per this policy, national parties recognised by the ECI and state parties that have at least seven MPs in total in both Houses of Parliament shall be considered for allotment of land for construction of office building in Delhi.
  • These parties enjoy the allotment of land at subsidised rates for constructing their own offices.
  • The size of the plot will depend on the party’s strength in both Houses – starting with 500 square metres for strength up to 15 MPs till 4 acres for strength over 201 MPs.
• Need to vacate any government bungalows upon construction of offices or within three years of the land allotment, whichever is earlier.
• Premises to be used for office purpose only(not for residential/commercial purpose)
  • The policy says the parties will have to use the buildings for their national units as well as any other wings or organisations.

Q1) Who provides the status of national and state parties in India?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) grants national and state party status to registered political parties. The ECI reviews the status of recognized parties periodically. 

Q2) Who are star campaigners in the Indian election?

A star campaigner is a popular vote seeker in an election for a party. There is no law defining the star campaigner and governing who can or cannot be made a star campaigner. They are nominated by the respective political parties and they follow guidelines issued by ECI under the Model Code of Conduct. The expenditure on campaign and travel of star campaigners is not added to the candidate’s spending limit.

Source: BJP, Congress squatting in Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone: What perks are recognised national, state parties entitled to | ECI