Election Commission to recognise Aam Aadmi Party as State Party in Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with winning over 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections on 8 December 2013 met the eligibility criteria of Election Commssion to become a State Party.

The Aam Aadmi Party registered as a political party by the Election Commission in March 2013.

What are the criteria for recognition of a Party?

Under the existing provisions of the Symbol Order, a registered party has to fulfill any of the following conditions for recognition as a State Party:

1. A political party should secure at least six percent of the total valid votes polled during general election to a State Legislative Assembly and should, in addition, win at least two seats in that Assembly, or the party should win at least three percent of the total number of seats or three seats in the Legislative Assembly, whichever is more;

2. Alternatively, a political party should secure at least six percent of the total valid votes polled in a State during a general election to Lok Sabha and win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha from that State, or the party should win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to that State.

3. Under the liberalized criteria, one more clause has been added to provide that even if a Party fails to win any seat in a State in a general election to the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly of the State, the party will still be eligible for recognition as State Party if it secures 8 percent or more of the total valid votes polled in the State.

4. If a political party is recognised as a “State Party” in four or more States then it will automatically become a national party.

5. Recognition is given only based on the poll results of Assembly/Lok Sabha general elections and by-elections are not taken into account for considering this.

6. A party, which is recognised as a State or National party, loses its recognition if it performs poorly in the subsequent polls.

Benefits under recognized state Party

The AAP, which was allotted “broomstick” as the election symbol by the Commission from among the common symbols following a request in this regard from AAP, will now have the choice of retaining “broomstick” as its permanent election symbol or it can design its own poll symbol provided it fits within the rules and regulations of the Commission.

EC recognition will entail the parties to participate in the all-party meetings convened by the EC/the State/Central governments, get a permanent common symbol for all their contestants, privilege to address the voters through the All India Radio and Doordarshan during poll.

About Aam Aadmi Party

• The Aam Admi Party was launched by Aravind Kejriwal, a former member of India against Corrpution (IAC) movement on 26 November 2012 in Delhi.
• AAP has a 23-member national executive committee and Aravind  Kejriwal is national convener of the Party.
• Aam Admi Party has won 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections on 8 December 2013.
• The election symbol of AAP is Broomstick.