New Delhi:In a major move, the Election Commission of India on Monday withdrew the national party status of the All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party or AAP has been elevated to national party status. AAP is currently in power in two states - Delhi and Punjab.
In an order issued on Monday, the Commission also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram. The Commission said the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states -- Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat.
Reacting to the development, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was nothing less than a "miracle" for his party to get the national party status in such a short time. Kejriwal credited people for the recognition and sought blessings from God to enable his party fulfil their expectations.
Soon after the Election Commission's announcement, he tweeted in Hindi, "National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all." "Crores of people of the country have brought us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us a huge responsibility, he said and sought blessings from God so the party fulfils this responsibility well. Formed in November 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party has got national party status in just 10 years.
Meanwhile, the poll panel said that the status of NCP, CPI and the Trinamool Congress as national political parties would be withdrawn. The BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People's Party (NPP) and the AAP are now national parties. The Commission said that NCP and Trinamool Congress will be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively based on their performance in the recently concluded assembly elections.
It also granted "recognised state political party" status to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya and the Tipra Motha in Tripura. The change comes weeks ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls slated next month and less than a year before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Also read: Tracing AAP's journey: From fledgling to a national political party
