Question

(i) What is meant by a ‘national political party’?

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Answer 1

Explanation:

A political party is able to get status of National Party when it: Secures at least 6% of the valid votes polled in any four or more states, in the Lok Sabha election or to the State Legislative Assembly and (ii) In addition, it wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha from any State or States.

Answer 2

Answer:

National Political Party have units in the various states, they follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.

Conditions required:

• A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or assembly elections in four states.

• Wins at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha.

Explanation:

$\blue{LET'S \: EXPLORE \: MORE}$

$\red{\it \: NATIONAL \: POLITICAL \: PARTIES}$

There are some countrywide parties, which are called national parties. These parties have their units in various states. But by and large all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level. We have 6 national political parties. They are:

The Congress Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India and the Nationalist Congress Party.

$\red{STATE \: PARTIES }$

Most of the major parties of the country are classified by the Election Commission as State parties. These are commonly referred to as regional parties. Since national parties are not able to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha, they are forming an alliance with state parties to form the government. Since 1996, nearly every one of the State parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition government. Examples of state parties are Shivsena, Trinamool Congress Party, DMK, etc.

$\red{RECOGNISED \: POLITICAL \: PARTIES}$

Political parties are grouped as 'Recognized National Party', 'Recognized State Party' and 'Registered unrecognized Party'. These mainly include conditions regarding minimum votes and minimum seats. If a party is recognized, the Election Commission reserves one election symbol for that party for the state concerned or for the entire country. Therefore, recognition is important for parties.

$\red{REGIONAL \: PARTIES }$

India has a multi-party system. Political parties are classified as national, state or regional level parties. The status of a party is accorded by the Election Commission of India. All parties are registered with the Election Commission. Regional parties are parties whose main holds are in one certain state and mostly they participate in the elections only within that state. Most of these regional parties have agenda fitting certain culture dominant within that state. For example Shiv Sena, DMK, AIDMK etc.