Trinamool Congress is now seventh ‘national party’ in India

NEW DELHI: After winning two consecutive Assembly polls in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Friday added yet another feather to her cap with her Trinamool Congress being extended the ‘national party’ status by the Election Commission.

Sources in the poll panel, quoting an order, said Trinamool Congress has satisfied one of the conditions mentioned in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 to be recognised as a national party — having being recognised as a state party in at least four states.

It is a recognised state party in West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Now, India has seven recognised national parties — Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India(Marxist), Nationalist Congress Party and All India Trinamool Congress.

Recognition as a national or a state party ensures that the election symbol of that party is not used by any other political entity in polls across India.

Other registered but unrecognised political parties have to choose from a pool of “free symbols” announced by the commission from time to time.

Besides, these parties get land or buildings from the government to set up their party offices. They can have up to 40 ‘star campaigners’ during electioneering.