Political parties play an important role in India's democratic system. They nominate candidates, participate in elections, present policies and programmes, and seek representation in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) registers political parties and classifies them as recognised or unrecognised parties. Recognised parties are further classified as National Parties or State Parties. These classifications are based on prescribed electoral criteria and can change as parties' election performance and recognition status change.
A National Party is a political party recognised by the Election Commission of India under the criteria specified in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. These criteria consider factors such as electoral performance across states and representation in elected legislatures.
National recognition is an official electoral classification. It does not mean that a party necessarily wins elections in every state or has the same level of support throughout India.
CPI(M) - Communist Party of India (Marxist)
A State Party is a political party recognised by the Election Commission of India in a particular state or Union Territory after meeting the applicable recognition criteria.
State recognition is geographically specific. A party may be recognised as a State Party in one state without being recognised as a National Party. State Parties can contest elections beyond the state where they are recognised, subject to applicable election rules.
AJSU - All Jharkhand Students Union
ADMK - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
AIMIM - All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen
AINRC - All India N.R. Congress
AITC - All India Trinamool Congress
AIUDF - All India United Democratic Front
CAP-S - Citizen Action Party - Sikkim
CPI - Communist Party of India
CPI(ML)(L) - Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation)
DMDK - Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
DMK - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
HSPDP - Hill State People's Democratic Party
INLD - Indian National Lok Dal
IUML - Indian Union Muslim League
IPFT - Indigenous People's Front of Tripura
JKNC - Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
JKNPP - Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party
PDP - Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
JCC(J) - Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J)
LJP(RV) - Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)
MNS - Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
MGP - Maharashtrawadi Gomantak
NCP - Nationalist Congress Party
NCP(SP) - Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar
NDPP - Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party
PDF - People's Democratic Front
PPA - People's Party of Arunachal
RLSP - Rashtriya Lok Samta Party
RLP - Rashtriya Loktantrik Party
RPI(A) - Republican Party of India (Athawale)
RGP - Revolutionary Goans Party
RSP - Revolutionary Socialist Party
SHS(UBT) - Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
SKM - Sikkim Krantikari Morcha
UPPL - United People's Party, Liberal
VCK - Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
VPP - Voice of the People Party
A registered unrecognised political party is a party registered with the Election Comission of India that does not currently hold recognised National Party or State Party status. Unrecognised Party can contest election subject to applicable laws and election rules.
After meeting a criteria, on basis of its electoral performance, as described by Election Comission of India, an Unrecognised party can receive State or National Party status accordingly.