EC to review parties’ national status every 10 yrs

New Delhi, August 22

In what may be a major reprieve for the BSP, NCP and CPI, the Election Commission today amended rules whereby it would now review the national and state party status of political parties every 10 years, instead of the present five.

The BSP, CPI and NCP were facing the prospect of losing their national party status after their dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The EC had served them notices in 2014 on the issue.

An EC notification said while the criteria of being recognised as a national and state party will remain unchanged, the review of the status will take place every two consecutive Lok Sabha or assembly elections, instead of one.

This means the review will take place every 10 years.

The EC has amended para 6C of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to effect the change. It was last amended in 2011. At present, BSP, BJP, Congress, NCP, CPI and CPM are the six recognised parties. Besides, there are 64 recognised state parties. — PTI