Recognised Political Party

Definition

A political party that meets the vote-share or seat criteria laid down by the Election Commission and is therefore recognised as either a National Party or a State Party, with consequent privileges.

Key points

• Recognition is governed by the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, administered by the concept election commission.
• A recognised party gets a reserved election symbol, free broadcast time, and the right to a set number of star campaigners.
• A State Party qualifies, for example, by securing a minimum vote share and seats in a State assembly or in the Lok Sabha from that State.
• A National Party is generally one recognised as a State Party in four or more States, or meeting specified seat and vote thresholds across States.
• Parties not meeting these thresholds are registered but unrecognised, and contest on free symbols.

Why it matters for CAPF

The National-versus-State recognition criteria and the privileges (reserved symbol, broadcast time) are standard electoral-system facts; verify the latest exact thresholds as the Commission revises them.

Common confusion

All recognised parties are registered, but not all registered parties are recognised; recognition (symbols and privileges) is separate from mere registration under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Parent note

political parties and pressure groups