BANGALORE: India may be left with only three national parties — BJP, Congress and CPM, as NCP, BSP and CPI fail to meet the standards set by the poll panel.
As per the poll panel touchstone, a national party requires a minimum of 6 percent votes from at least four states, or 2 percent of total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states, or it should be as a state party in at least four states.
Having failed to crack the requirement, NCP, BSP and CPI were administered with show-cause notices demanding explanation, on what bases they should be left to remain with the national status. They were provided with an opportunity but if they lose recognition, BJP, Congress and CPI would hold the rights of a national party.
The Symbols Order 1968 indicates a party that loses national recognition is withheld of the right to fight elections across the country using a common symbol. The decision if invoked, would further restrain the reservation of analogue clock symbol for the NCP across the country and would be able to utilize it in states as a state party.
The parties that loose the national status could suffer the loss of utilizing the facilities such as AIR and Doordarshan for poll-eve broadcasts and free copies of electoral rolls.
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