CPM may lose national party status

Chennai: If EC review is anything to go by, CPM may lose its recognition as a national party due to its poor showing in the assembly polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, a party is recognized as being national, if it has 11 Lok Sabha MPs (2% of the total number of LS seats), or at least 6% of votes in LS/assembly polls in at least four states in addition to winning four LS seats.

The party is allowed to get the national status, if it is recognized as state party in at least four states. The party fulfils the criteria as a state party in only three states, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

In TN, the party secured only 0.7% votes, and in Puducherry, an Independent candidate of Mahe, V Ramachandran, who has the party's backing, won the poll. "But this may not be considered as the candidate contested in symbol meant for independent," said an election officer.