EC issues notices; NCP, TMC & CPI may lose ‘national party’ tag

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission issued notices to Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India and Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday asking why their recognition as national party should not be withdrawn as they no longer fulfilled the condition of recognition as a state party in four states after the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Sources in the EC said as per a review of the three parties’ performance in the last two elections in the states where they were recognised, Trinamool Congress no longer fulfilled the criteria for state recognition in Arunachal Pradesh, even as it retained the status in West Bengal, Tripura and Manipur.
NCP’s performance fell short in Meghalaya and Goa, even as it met the criteria in Maharashtra and Nagaland. CPI, meanwhile, is recognised only in three states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Manipur — even as norms require a party to be recognised as a state party in four states to enjoy the status of a ‘national party’.
The parties have been asked to respond by August 5.
Though the de-recognition will be as per vote share/strength of members elected, there have been past instances of parties seeking deferment of a decision in view of an approaching poll. Since Maharashtra elections are due later this year, it is likely that NCP will raise this demand. Sources said that the EC may take a decision by the end of August.