Political parties of India

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

Every party in India has to register with the Election Commission of India. 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 parties, 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 Indian parliament.

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

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Political position: Conservatism, Hindutva, Integral Humanism, Right-wing populism Color: ■ Saffron Alliance: NDA Description: Founded in 1980 by reviving the retired Bharatiya Jana Sangh, formed by Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1951. Takes inspiration from India's ancient culture and Deendayal Upadhyaya's ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya. It has close links to the much older Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party.

Indian National Congress (INC)

Political position: Centrism, Secularism Color: ■ Sky blue (customary) Alliance: UPA Description: Founded in 1885, it is one of the oldest political parties of the world. It played a dominant role during pre- and post-Independent India under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, but appears to be increasingly irrelevant today. It suffers from the dynastic politics of the Gandhi family, who control the party even today.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

Political position: Gandhism Color: ■ Pacific Blue Alliance: UPA Description: Formed in 1999 after a split in the Congress party.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

Political position: Social justice, Secularism Color: ■ Blue Alliance: Description: Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. Seeks to represent and secure power for the marginalised bahujan samaj including dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities. Draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of social reformers such as Ambedkar, Periyar, Phule etc.

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.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Political position: Centrism, Populism, No-core-ideology Color: ■ Blue Alliance: Federal Front Description: Founded in 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal after the popular 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement} also led by him. Predominant in Delhi, India's capital, though it is close to becoming a national party after winning in Punjab and having influence in Goa and Chandigarh as well.

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

External links

• https://eci.gov.in/