Political parties of India

Political parties of India are registered with the Election Commission of India. They are classified in three major cantegories - National Parties, State Parties and Registered (unrecognised) political parties. Many of them do not participate in the elections.

Registration of political parties is governed by the provisions of section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. A party seeking registration under the said
section with the Commission has to submit an application to the Commission within a period of 30 days following the date of its formation in prescribed format with certain basic particulars about the party such as name, address, membership details of various units, names of office bearers, etc, as required under sub-section (4) of the said section, and such other particulars as the Commission may specify under sub-section (6) of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

For a National party, it must have the legislative presence in the Lok Sabha, and, for a State party, the legislative presence must be reflected in the State Assembly.

A political party shall be eligible to be recognised as a National party if :-
(i) it secures at least six percent(6%) of the valid votes polled in any four or more states, at a general election to the House of the People or, to the State Legislative Assembly; and
(ii) in addition, it wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States.

OR

it wins at least two percent (2%) seats in the House o the People (i.e., 11 seats in the existing House having 543 members), and these members are elected from at least three different States.

Likewise, a political party shall be entitled to be recognised as a State party, if :-

(i) it secures at least six percent (6%) of the valid votes polled in the State at a general election, either to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned; and

(ii) in addition, it wins at least two seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned.

OR

it wins at least three percent (3%) of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State, or at least three seats in the Assembly, whichever is more.

Recognition is given to a party only on the basis of its own performance in elections and not because it is a splinter group of some other recognised party.

All other political parties registered with the Election Commission of India are unrecognised.