STATE PARTY - POLITY
News: VCK, NTK set to get ECI
Recognition As State Parties
What's in the news?
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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which won the
two seats it contested under the DMK-led alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls
and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which contested on its own and secured 8.1% of
the total polled votes, are set to be recognized as state political parties by
the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Key takeaways:
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The Election Commission registers political parties
for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state
parties on the basis of their poll performance.
Conditions for
Recognition as a State Party:
A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following
conditions is fulfilled:
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If it secures 6%
of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the
legislative assembly of the state concerned and in addition, it wins 2 seats in the assembly of the state concerned.
●
If it secures
6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok
Sabha from the state concerned and in addition, it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha from the state concerned.
●
If it wins 3%
of seats in the legislative assembly 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 Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted
to the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned or
●
If it secures
8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a general election to
the Lok Sabha from the state or to the legislative assembly of the state. This
condition was added in 2011.
Significance of Becoming
a Recognised State Party:
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lt is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates in
the state in which it is so recognised.
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They are eligible to get land in the state capital to build a party office.
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They can have up to 40 star campaigners instead of the 20 that registered but not
recognised parties are allowed.
○
A star campaigner is a popular vote seeker in an
election for a party.
○
There is no law defining the star campaigner.
○
They are nominated
by the respective political parties and they follow guidelines issued by
ECI under the Model Code of Conduct.
○
The expenditure on campaign and travel of star
campaigners is not added to the candidate’s spending limit.
●
They also get broadcast/telecast
facilities over Akashvani/Doordarshan during general elections.
● Recognised `State’ and `National’ parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination.