National political parties of India
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| National political parties of India | |
|---|---|
| Name | National political parties of India |
| Founded | Various |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Ideology | Various |
| Seats in lok sabha | Various |
National political parties of India
National political parties of India are political organisations recognised at the national level by the Election Commission of India under criteria established by the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and related Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Recognition affects symbol allotment, electoral roll access, and campaign regulations governed by the Supreme Court of India and overseen during general elections to the Lok Sabha and elections to the Rajya Sabha. National parties operate across multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu while interacting with institutions such as the Attorney General of India and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Definition and Recognition Criteria
The Election Commission of India defines criteria for national recognition based on performance in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assembly elections, and vote share in multiple states, referencing thresholds established after cases before the Supreme Court of India and guidelines from the Delimitation Commission of India. Parties must secure a percentage of votes or a minimum number of seats across two or more states, which links to past rulings involving the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and precedents set during disputes heard by the Constitution Bench of India. The criteria determine entitlements like a permanent electoral symbol, access to the National Register of Citizens-era electoral processes, and placement in official lists used by the Press Information Bureau and the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
History and Evolution
The emergence of national parties traces to the pre-independence era with roots in movements led by the Indian National Congress during the Indian independence movement and subsequent reorganisations influenced by the Partition of India and the Constituent Assembly of India. Post-independence developments saw entities like the Communist Party of India and later the Bharatiya Janata Party evolve from predecessors including the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and factions linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, while splinters formed parties such as the Janata Dal and regional formations like the All India Trinamool Congress and Telugu Desam Party asserting national ambitions. Landmark elections—1977 Indian general election, 1984 Indian general election, 1998 Indian general election, and 2014 Indian general election—shaped recognition, coalition practices exemplified by the United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, and legal interpretations by tribunals including the Election Commission of India panels.
List of Current National Parties
The list of national parties recognised by the Election Commission includes major entities such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Bahujan Samaj Party, the All India Trinamool Congress, and others that meet statutory criteria following reviews by the Election Commission of India after general elections in India. These parties maintain organisational presence in states including Kerala, Assam, Punjab, Bihar, and Jharkhand and field candidates for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies while coordinating with institutions like the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice on compliance matters.
Symbols, Funding, and Organizational Structure
National parties receive a reserved electoral symbol for nationwide contests as regulated by the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 and adhere to financial reporting under the Companies Act, 2013-derived audit norms and limits shaped by rulings from the Supreme Court of India and guidelines from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Funding sources include donations regulated by the Income Tax Act, 1961 provisions and disclosures to the Election Commission of India and parliamentary scrutiny by committees such as the Public Accounts Committee. Organisationally, national parties maintain central offices in New Delhi, state units in capitals like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and internal bodies such as national executive committees, working committees, and youth wings like the All India Youth Federation or affiliated student organisations connected to universities like University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Role in National Politics and Elections
National parties contest general election cycles, influence formation of governments at the centre in the Sansad through alliances like the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance, and shape policy debates in Parliament including legislation on matters reviewed by parliamentary committees and the President of India when assent is required. They mobilise voters across demographic constituencies drawing on leaders who may be former ministers, chief ministers from states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and prominent parliamentarians who participate in debates on bills like the Goods and Services Tax Act or in responses to crises such as the 2008 Indian political crisis.
Criticisms and Controversies
National parties face criticisms regarding internal democracy often highlighted in media outlets like the Press Trust of India and investigated in cases before the Election Commission of India or the Supreme Court of India concerning issues such as opaque funding revealed by audits of disclosures to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, alleged misuse of incumbency in states like Rajasthan and Haryana, and controversies over candidate selection involving political dynasties linked to families of leaders from the Nehru–Gandhi family or factions with roots in organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Debates over electoral reforms have referenced commissions such as the Law Commission of India and reports by civil society organisations including the Association for Democratic Reforms.