For 'National Party' Status, AAP Approaches Karnataka High Court
NDTV
Last week, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the Aam Aadmi Party's status as a national-level political organisation is "under review".
Weeks ahead of the election in Karnataka, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has filed a petition in the state's High Court for being recognised as a national party, saying that the delay is impeding its ability to contest the polls.
The petition, filed by AAP Karnataka convenor Prithvi Reddy, states that the party fulfils all the criteria for becoming a national party, but has been denied the status by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
According to the ECI guidelines, a party can be recognised as a national party if it secures at least 6 per cent of the valid votes polled in four or more states in a general election or assembly election and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states; or if it wins at least 2 per cent of the total Lok Sabha seats in a general election from at least three different states; or if it is recognised as a state party in at least four states.
The petition said that AAP meets the requirements, with its performance in the last elections held in Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat.
