The National People’s Party (NPP) has been recognised as the eighth national party by the Election Commission of India, making it the first regional party of the north-east to be accorded the status.
The Election Commission registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance.
Conditions for Recognition as a National Party
A party is recognised as a national party if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:
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
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
If it is recognised as a state party in four states.
What is the benefit of granting national political party: The recognition granted by the Commission to the parties determines their right to certain privileges like allocation of the party symbols, provision of time for political broadcasts on the state-owned television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.