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India has a multi-party system. The Election Commission of India (ECI) accords to national-level and state-level political parties based upon objective criteria. A recognised political party enjoys privileges like a reserved party symbol,[lower-alpha 1] free broadcast time on state-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and giving input in setting electoral rules and regulations. Other political parties that wish to contest local, state, or national elections are required to be registered by the Election Commission of India. Registered parties are upgraded as recognised national parties or state parties by the ECI if they meet the relevant criteria after a Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. The recognised party status is reviewed periodically by the ECI.
Before the amendment in 2016 (which came into force on 1 January 2014), if a political party failed to fulfill the criteria in the subsequent Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election, they lost their status as a recognised party. In 2016, the ECI announced that such a review would take place after two consecutive elections instead of every election. Therefore, a political party shall retain the recognised party status even if they do not meet the criteria in the next election. However, if they fail to meet the criteria in the subsequent election following the next election, they would lose their status.
As per latest publications dated 23 March 2024 from Election Commission of India, and subsequent notifications, there are 6 national parties,[1] 57 state parties,[2][lower-alpha 2] and 2,764 unrecognised parties.[6] All registered parties contesting elections need to choose a symbol from a list of available symbols offered by the EC. All 28 states of the country along with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Puducherry have elected governments unless President's rule is imposed under certain condition.
A registered party is recognised as a national party only if it fulfils any one of the three conditions listed below:[7]
Party | Flag | Election symbol |
Political position |
Ideology | Founded | Leader | Government in states/UTs | Seats | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chief ministers | Alliance partner | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha | State assemblies |
State councils | |||||||||
Aam Aadmi Party | AAP | ![]() |
![]() |
Centre to centre-left | Populism Secularism Composite nationalism Democratic socialism |
November 2012 | Arvind Kejriwal | 2 / 31 |
0 / 31 |
3 / 543 |
10 / 245 |
160 / 4,123 |
0 / 426 | |
Bahujan Samaj Party | BSP | ![]() |
![]() |
Centre to centre-left | Ambedkarism Self-Respect |
April 1984 | Mayawati | 0 / 31 |
0 / 31 |
0 / 543 |
1 / 245 |
5 / 4,123 |
0 / 426 | |
Bharatiya Janata Party | BJP | ![]() |
![]() |
Right-wing | Hindutva Neoliberalism Right-wing populism Conservatism |
April 1980 | J. P. Nadda | 12 / 31 |
5 / 31 |
240 / 543 |
93 / 245 |
1,481 / 4,123 |
165 / 426 | |
Communist Party of India (Marxist) | CPI(M) | ![]() |
![]() |
Left-wing | Communism Marxism–Leninism Secularism Socialism |
November 1964 | Sitaram Yechury | 1 / 31 |
2 / 31 |
4 / 543 |
5 / 245 |
79 / 4,123 |
0 / 426 | |
Indian National Congress | INC | ![]() |
![]() |
Centre | Big tent Secularism Civic nationalism Social democracy |
December 1885 | Mallikarjun Kharge | 3 / 31 |
3 / 31 |
101 / 543 |
30 / 245 |
676 / 4,123 |
59 / 426 | |
National People's Party | NPP | ![]() |
![]() |
Centre-right | Regionalism Cultural conservatism |
January 2013 | Conrad Sangma | 1 / 31 |
3 / 31 |
0 / 543 |
1 / 245 |
44 / 4,123 |
0 / 426 | |
A registered party is recognised as a state party only if it fulfils any one of the five conditions listed below:[7]
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