State Party in India - All You Need To Know

State party

Each of the 29 states in India has at least one political party which comes under the category of state party. As of March 2019, the Election Commission of India recognises 52 political parties as such. Many of these parties have tasted political power at some point: either in coalition with a national party or single-handedly. At present, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (Secular), Aam Aadmi Party, Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal (United), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front, National People’s Party and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party are the political parties recognised as such which are in power in different states.

In order to be recognised as a state party, a political party needs to fulfil at least one of the 4 criteria laid down by the Election Commission of India. 

1)A political party will be recognised as a state party if it wins 3% of the total seats in the Legislative Assembly of the state (subject to a minimum of three seats)

2)Alternatively, a party must win one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 Lok Sabha seats allotted for the state in order to become a state party. 

The third and fourth criteria seem comparatively simpler for any registered political party to fulfil. 

3)A political party needspoll at least 6% of votes in a state during a Lok Sabha or Assembly election. In addition, it also needs to win at least one Lok Sabha or two Legislative Assembly seats. 

4)Finally, a political party will be recognised as a state party if it wins at least eight percent votes in a state during the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly elections.

In the past few years, many political parties have been derecognised for failing to secure minimum number of seats and vote share as prescribed by the Election Commission. Some of them include Vaiko-led Pattali Makkal Katchi and Manipur’s People’s Party. While the former was derecognised in 2010, the latter — which is the oldest political outfit in Manipur — its state party status in 2013

Benefits of being a state party or national party

A state party is allowed exclusive use of its allotted symbol during Assembly or parliamentary elections in a state where it is recognised as such. For example: The DMK is allowed to use its symbol “Rising Sun” in Assembly or general elections in Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, a national party is allowed exclusive use of its allotted symbol during state or Lok Sabha elections across the country

Recognised state or national parties also get other benefits from the Election Commission. A candidate belonging to such parties needs only one proposer for filing the nomination. These parties are also entitled to two sets of electoral rolls free of cost at the time of revision of rolls, while their candidates get one copy of electoral roll for no cost during general elections

Since 1998, these political parties also get broadcasting rights over All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan during Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Both national and state parties also enjoy the privileges of utilising star campaigners for their election campaigns. A recognised national or state party can have a maximum of 40 star campaigners during a state or national election. Notably, the travel expenses of star campaigners cannot be accounted for in the election expense accounts of candidates.