No immediate threat to CPI(M)’s national status; election symbol safe

NEW DELHI: Despite losing power in Kerala, the CPI(M) is unlikely to lose its official election symbol or its status as a National Party. According to current regulations, a party retains its national status if it has at least four Lok Sabha MPs and secures 6% of the total votes in four or more states during the general elections.

The CPI(M) currently has four representatives in the Lok Sabha:

• K. Radhakrishnan (Alathur, Kerala)
• R. Sachithanantham (Dindigul, Tamil Nadu)
• S. Venkatesan (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
• Amra Ram (Sikar, Rajasthan)

In the 2024 elections, the party secured a 26% vote share from Kerala alone. Experts suggest that the party’s national status faces no immediate threat until 2033, as the Election Commission of India (ECI) typically reviews these statuses only after two consecutive general elections.

During the last review in 2023, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of India (CPI) lost their national party tags. Currently, only the BJP, Congress, AAP, CPI(M), BSP, and NPP hold National Party status.

Key benefits of National Party status:

• Retention of a permanent election symbol nationwide.
• Free airtime on Doordarshan and All India Radio.
• Government subsidies and land for constructing party offices.

Responding to the developments, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby stated that the party is confident its national status remains secure.