The Election Commission of India has recognized the Aam Aadmi Party as a national party and withdrawn the national party status of the All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India. The criteria to be recognized as a national party require a party’s candidates to get at least 6% of the total votes polled in a minimum of four states in the last national election or to win four Lok Sabha seats, or have a minimum of 2% of total seats in the Lok Sabha with candidates elected from at least three states. The Trinomool lost its national party status due to poor showings in Goa and some northeast states, while the NCP and CPI had their statuses withdrawn after poor performances in state elections. With these changes, there are five national parties in India.
