Will AAP lose national party status after Delhi defeat? Here’s what rules say

New Delhi:

With the BJP sweeping the Delhi Assembly elections, questions arise about whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will lose its national party status. Here’s what the Election Commission rules state.  

How did AAP achieve National Party status?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) granted national party status to AAP on September 30, 2023, after it secured nearly 13% vote share and five seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections. This achievement made AAP a state-recognized party in four states Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa fulfilling the criteria for national status.  

At the same time, the ECI withdrew national party recognition from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), reducing the number of national parties in India to six:  

- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  
- Indian National Congress (Congress) 
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 
- Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) 
- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 
- National People’s Party (NPP)  

How Can a Party Retain National Status? 

For a political party to maintain its national party recognition, it must fulfill any one of the following conditions:  

1. Electoral Performance: It must secure at least 6% of the total valid votes in at least four states(in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections) and win at least four Lok Sabha seats. 
2. Representation in the Lok Sabha: The party must have at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats (which is at least 11 MPs) with members elected from three or more states.
3. State Party Recognition: The party should be recognized as a state party in at least four states.

What happens if AAP loses Delhi?

Despite AAP’s poor performance in Delhi, its national status remains unaffected for now. Losing power in Delhi does not automatically revoke its recognition as a state party. AAP continues to hold state party status in:  

- Punjab (where it is the ruling party)  
- Delhi (even in opposition, if it meets the required vote share/seats) 
- Gujarat (secured 6% vote share in 2023)  
- Goa (recognized as a state party)  

However, if AAP’s electoral performance declines in these states, failing to secure 6% of votes or at least two seats in any of them, it risks losing national recognition when the ECI conducts its next review.  Past parties That lost National party status 

The Election Commission regularly reviews a party’s national status after elections. In 2023:  -

NCP lost its national status after losing state party recognition in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya.  
- TMC was downgraded after losing state party recognition in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. 
- CPI lost recognition in West Bengal and Odisha.  

Several regional parties also lost state party recognition, including:  

- Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh 
- Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Andhra Pradesh 
- People’s Democratic Alliance in Manipur  

What Lies Ahead for AAP? 

While AAP has survived this election cycle, its long-term national status depends on its performance in upcoming state and Lok Sabha elections.A loss in Punjab or a further dip in vote share in Gujarat or Goacould jeopardize its national standing. For now, AAP remains a national party, but its hold on that title is far from secure.