Political parties of India

Unlike the USA and the UK, India adopted the multi-party system.

Every party in India has to register with the It offers some special facilities to the large and already established parties. Such parties are called 'recognised political parties' and they are given a unique symbol which can only be used by the official candidates of that part. There are 2858 registered party, but only a handful of them are officially recognised.

This article will only list the political parties recognised by the Electoral Commission.

National parties
The criteria put forward by the Election Commission in order to be recognised as a national party are:-
 * at least 6% of the total votes in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections in 4 (or more) states
 * at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha

According to this classification there were 7 recognised national parties in 2018

State parties
The criteria put forward by the Election Commission in order to be recognised as a national party are:-
 * at least 6% vote in the state Legislative Assembly
 * at least 2 seats in the Legislative Assembly

Some of these parties are actually all-India parties but have only succeeded in some states, like the Samajwadi Party and Janta Dal have national level political organisation. Some parties are conscious about their state identity.

Alliances
Until BJP's arrival in 2014, no national party has ever been able to get a majority in the Lok Sabha. Hence, they are compelled to form alliances with numerous state parties.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

 * Members: BJP

United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

 * Members: INC, NCP

Left Front

 * Members: CPI, CPI-M

Federal Front

 * Members: AAP, AITMC