A newly formed party wins 7% of votes in the Legislative Assembly elections of one state and secures three se…

Question

A newly formed party wins 7% of votes in the Legislative Assembly elections of one state and secures three seats in that assembly, but contests no Lok Sabha seats. Which category of recognised party — national or state — can it claim, and why?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer The party can claim recognition as a **State party**. As per the Election Commission's criteria, a party is recognised as a **State party** if it secures **at least 6% of total votes** in a State Legislative Assembly election **and wins at least 2 seats**. This party wins 7% of votes (above 6%) and secures 3 seats (above 2) in one state's assembly — both conditions are satisfied. It **cannot** claim national party status because it has not contested Lok Sabha elections at all, and has not won at least 4 Lok Sabha seats or secured 6% votes across four states. *Source: Democratic Politics, Chapter 4 — National parties / State parties* --- ## Explanation - The examiner wants you to **name the category** (State party), **quote the exact numerical criteria** from the textbook, and **apply them** to the given data — all three steps for 3 marks. - A common mistake is confusing "6% in one state assembly + 2 seats" (State party) with "6% in Lok Sabha/4 states + 4 Lok Sabha seat…

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