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Meet India's newest national party, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 2 September 2016, 18:28 IST

The Election Commission (EC) of India on 2 September officially recognised the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress as a 'national party'.

The TMC was recognised after it fulfilled all the conditions laid down by the Election Commission.

The EC recently decided that in order for a political party to bag the status of a national party, it has to win 2% of Lok Sabha seats from at least three different states in the latest general election. Alternatively, a party must poll in a Lok Sabha or Assembly election 6% of the total valid votes in at least four states, in addition to winning four Lok Sabha seats. Or it must be recognised as a state party in at least four states.

Currently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Communist Party of India - Marxist CPI(M), and the Communist Party of India (CPI) are the six recognised national political parties. There are also 64 recognised state parties.

First published: 2 September 2016, 18:28 IST