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Question

Which of the following is not a national political party?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2017 Previous Year Paper (14-Sep-2017) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

Indian National Lok Dal

Identifying National Political Parties in India

Understanding the status of political parties is crucial in the context of Indian democracy. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the body responsible for recognizing political parties as national or state parties based on specific criteria related to their performance in elections.

A political party must fulfill certain conditions laid down by the Election Commission of India to be recognized as a 'National Party'. These criteria typically involve vote share and number of seats won in Lok Sabha elections or state assembly elections across a specified number of states.

Let's examine the political parties listed in the options provided:

  • Indian National Lok Dal (INLD): The Indian National Lok Dal is primarily a political party based in the state of Haryana. While it has contested Lok Sabha elections, its presence and electoral performance have historically been limited to Haryana and a few nearby areas. It has not met the criteria for national party recognition by the Election Commission of India.
  • Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): The Bahujan Samaj Party is a major political party in India with a significant presence across several states, particularly Uttar Pradesh. It has historically met the criteria set by the ECI for recognition as a national party.
  • Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the two major political parties in India and has a strong presence nationwide. It consistently meets the criteria for and is recognized as a national party by the ECI.
  • Indian National Congress (INC): The Indian National Congress is another major political party with a long history and nationwide presence. It also consistently meets the criteria for and is recognized as a national party by the ECI.

Based on the recognition status by the Election Commission of India, the Indian National Lok Dal is not recognized as a national political party, while the Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Indian National Congress are national parties.

Here is a summary:

Political Party Status (National/Not National) Reason (Based on ECI criteria generally)
Indian National Lok Dal Not National Primarily state-based (Haryana), does not meet national party criteria.
Bahujan Samaj Party National Meets ECI criteria based on electoral performance across multiple states.
Bharatiya Janata Party National Meets ECI criteria based on widespread presence and electoral performance.
Indian National Congress National Meets ECI criteria based on widespread presence and electoral performance.

Therefore, the party that is not a national political party among the given options is the Indian National Lok Dal.

Revision Table: Political Party Status

Party Name Common Abbreviation Recognition Status
Indian National Lok Dal INLD State Party (primarily Haryana)
Bahujan Samaj Party BSP National Party
Bharatiya Janata Party BJP National Party
Indian National Congress INC National Party

Additional Information on National Party Recognition

The Election Commission of India grants national party status to parties that meet any one of the following three criteria:

  • The party secures at least 6% of the valid votes polled in any four or more states in a Lok Sabha election or a state assembly election, AND wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states.
  • The party wins at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats (currently 11 seats) from at least 3 different states.
  • The party is recognized as a State Party in at least four states.

Meeting any one of these criteria allows a party to be recognized as a national party, granting them symbols, broadcasting facilities, and other privileges nationwide. Parties like INLD primarily focus on a single state and do not meet these extensive requirements for national recognition.

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