Why in News?

• The Aam Aadmi Party has recently became the 9th National Party of India after the result of Gujarat elections where it gained almost 13% of the vote share.

Highlights

• It has a nationwide presence as opposed to a regional party that is restricted to only a particular state or region.
• A certain stature Is sometimes associated with being a national party, but this does not necessarily translate into having a lot of national political influence
• A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:

• If it secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the respective state legislative assembly (state LA) and also, it wins 2 seats in the same state LA.
• If it secures 6% of the total valid votes in the state at a general election to the LS; and also, it wins 1 seat in the LS from the same state.
• If it wins 3% of seats in the LA at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly (whichever is more).
• If it wins 1 seat in the LS for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the LS from the state concerned.
• If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the LS from the state or to the State LA

• A recognised party (national or state) has the right to certain privileges like allocation of the party symbols, provision of time for political broadcasts on the state-owned television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.
• These parties are allowed to have 40 “star campaigners” during the time of elections (the registered-unrecognised parties are allowed to have 20 “star campaigners”).
• Every national party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country. Even in the states where it is not contesting elections.
• For a state party, the allotted symbol is exclusively reserved for its use in the state/s in which it is so recognised.