EC Summons CPI, TMC and NCP for Hearing on Their National Party Status

The Election Commission has called the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for a personal hearing next month, sources said. The commission had earlier sent the three parties notices asking them to explain why their status as national parties should not be withdrawn after their showing in the Lok Sabha elections.

The hearing and the parties’ defence

In line with established practice, the three parties will be able to argue their case in person before the commission on September 9. They had already replied to the notices earlier in the month, defending their status.

The CPI reportedly argued that it is the country’s oldest party after the Congress and was once the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha. It said that although its recent Lok Sabha result was poor, it has held power in several states and helped strengthen the Constitution. The TMC reportedly said it received national party status in 2014 and should be allowed to keep it at least until 2024.

Background and the rules

The CPI, the NCP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had faced a similar threat after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. They were spared when the commission changed its rules in 2016 so that the status of national and state parties is reviewed every 10 years rather than every five. The BSP, which won 10 Lok Sabha seats in the latest general election and holds some assembly seats, is not at risk this time.

Under the 1968 Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, a party can be recognised as national if its candidates win at least six per cent of the votes in at least four states in assembly or Lok Sabha elections, and if it has at least four Lok Sabha members. The order also refers to holding at least two per cent of Lok Sabha seats, with members drawn from at least three states.

At present, the parties with national status are the TMC, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), Congress, NCP and the National People’s Party.

See also: Nationalist Congress Party | Communist Party of India

Originally published on 30 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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