EC grants AAP national party status; NCP, CPI, TMC lose tag

The Election Commission of India on Monday revised, for the first time since 2018, the list of national and state political parties, granting national party status to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and downgrading veteran politician Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

- Deeksha Bhardwaj

"Review of the poll performance of AAP shows that in the general election to legislative assembly of Gujarat, AAP polled 12.92% of total vote," EC noted in its order.

"It has fulfilled the criteria of a state party in Gujarat... and is already a recognised state party in Delhi, Goa and Punjab."

AAP's national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the EC decision was nothing less than a "miracle". "Many congratulations to everyone. Crores of people from the country have brought us here. People expect a lot from us. Today the public has given us this huge responsibility. I pray to God, to bless us to fulfil this responsibility with full dedication," he tweeted.

The national status gives a party several advantages such as a common party symbol across states, free airtime during elections on public broadcasters, and space for a party office in New Delhi.