Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) retained its ‘national party’ status

NEW DELHI: Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will be able to contest the Maharashtra assembly elections, likely to be announced soon along with polls in Haryana and Jharkhand, as a ‘national party’. Sources said the Election Commission, which heard NCP , TMC and CPI last week on why their status as national party should not be withdrawn based on their performance in the recent general elections, is likely to continue further hearing in the case only after the upcoming state polls.

This also means that TMC and CPI, facing the prospect of losing their national party status as they no longer fulfil the criteria for national recognition, shall also get a breather. “While EC granted a personal hearing to representatives of the three parties, there are some loose ends, requiring further hearing. The date for the same has not been decided,” said a commission functionary. However, TOI has learnt from EC sources that with polls to Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana expected to be declared any day now, the commission may opt for status quo until the elections are over.

“Any further hearing in the matter may be taken up only after the assembly elections,” said an official.

For NCP, retention of ‘national party’ status during Maharashtra polls means it can set up 40 star campaigners. The expenditure incurred on travel, including by air, and other expenses of star campaigners is borne by the party and not included in the election expenditure of the candidate.

National parties also get a time slot on state-owned electronic media for campaigning.

According to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a political party is recognised as a national party if its candidates secure at least 6% of votes polled in at least four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections, and, in addition, it wins at least four Lok Sabha seats. It should also win 2% of total Lok Sabha seats (11) from at least three different states. The EC had last amended norms in 2016 to provide for review of national and state party status every 10 years instead of five.

Sources in the EC said post-2019 general elections, Trinamool no longer fulfils the criteria for state recognition in Arunachal Pradesh, even as it retains the status in West Bengal, Tripura and Manipur. NCP’s performance falls short for recognition in Meghalaya and Goa, even as it meets the criteria in Maharashtra and Nagaland. CPI is now recognised only in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Manipur, even as norms require a ‘national’ party to be recognised as state party in four states.

