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Country's second oldest party, Communist Party of India (CPI) might lose its status of a national party following its disastrous performance in the 15th Lok Sabha elections. So far, CPI has bagged only two seats and the trends show that it is not going to win another three seats to push the number to five. CPI contested in 57 seats in 23 states in this Lok Sabha election. The party also performed badly in Kerala by losing all the three seats.
As per the Election Commission of India, in order to maintain the status of a national party, any political party has to contest from four states and get at least six per cent votes from at least four states. It further said that a national party will have get two percent of total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states or it will be a party recognised as a state party in at least four states. According to CPI national executive Pannian Raveendran, the party is expected to retain its state party status in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Manipur and Jharkhand.
In 2004 general elections, CPI had won 10 of the 34 seats with a vote share of 1.4 per cent. Following its inability to meet the criteria of a national party, the Election Commission had issued a notice to CPI in 2004. However, in 2005 the EC modified its guidelines and decided to give national status to a party recognised as a state party in a minimum of four states. The new relaxation might save CPI from losing its national status.
