The Election Commission has resumed in-person hearings on this matter more than three and a half years after nine parties - three national parties - the NCP, Trinamool Congress, and CPI, as well as six state parties - were given notices by the election body asking them to explain why their "status" should not be downgraded in light of their performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The proceedings under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, that began in the second half of 2019, were stalled after the Covid pandemic broke out.
The EC questioned NCP, TMC, and CPI about why their status as "national parties" should not be revoked after failing to meet the requirements to maintain recognition. The day before, the EC had heard six state parties - namely Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, People’s Democratic Alliance, Mizoram People’s Conference, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Revolutionary Socialist Party - on why they should not be derecognised for failing to meet the conditions laid down in the Symbols Order for ‘state party’ status.
“Basically, the process which was started in 2019 but was held up due to Covid has been resumed,” an EC official told the media.
The EC is not required by the Symbols Order to hold in-person hearings while examining a party's categorization. To respect the norms of natural justice, the poll panel chose to hear from the parties, according to an officer.
As per Section 6B of the Symbols Order, a party is recognised as a ‘national party’ if it fulfills three conditions.