Several Political Parties in the country are set to lose their national status as in the recent elections, they could not secure the minimum percentage of votes and seats. The Election Commission of India has sent show-cause notice to Nationalist Congress Party [NCP], Bahujan Samaj Party [BSP] and Communist Party of India [CPI] seeking explanation on why their national party status should not be withdrawn after their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

As per the ECI guidelines, for any party get 'national status', it needs to get at least 6% votes each from minimum four states, or get 2% of total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states, or it should be a recognised as a state party in at least four states. In the recently concluded polls, NCP had won six seats while CPI one. Whereas, BSP could not even open the account and this has made their national status fall in dilemma.

If these three parties lose national status, they also lose certain benefits by the Election body like they can't contest the elections with a common symbol, utilising All India Radio [AIR] and Doordarshan for election campaign broadcast and free copies of electoral rolls.

(AW: Vamshi)