In India, there are many national and regional parties involved in the political system. Election Commission has divided the political parties in India into three groups namely 7 national parties, 24 regional parties and 2044 non-recognized parties till April 13, 2018. Any political parties who are willing to contest elections at the local level, state level or national level must be registered in the Indian Election Commission (EIC).
In India, only 6 parties were recognized as national parties by 2016, but this number has now become 7 due to the recognition of Mamta Banerjee's party 'All India Trinamool Congress' as a national party in 2016.
In India, a multi-party system is the multi-party party system in which small regional parties are more powerful. National parties are those who are recognized in four or more states. There are 24 regional parties in India at this time-
Remember that after getting recognition as a national or state party, no other party can use the symbol of that party in the country. Apart from this, such parties are given land or buildings on behalf of the government for setting up their offices. In such elections, such parties can keep up to 40-star campaigners whereas the other party can hold 20-star campaigners.
At the same time, the Election Commission had amended a rule on August 22 under which it will review any national or state party status in 10 years instead of five years.
In India, only 6 parties were recognized as national parties by 2016, but this number has now become 7 due to the recognition of Mamta Banerjee's party 'All India Trinamool Congress' as a national party in 2016.
| Sl. N. | Name of the Party | Symbol |
| 1. | All India Trinamool Congress | Flowers & Grass |
| 2. | Bahujan Samaj Party | Elephant [In all States/U.T.s except in the State of Assam, where its candidates will have to choose a symbol from out of the list of free symbols specified by the Commission] |
| 3. | Bharatiya Janata Party | Lotus |
| 4. | Communist Party of India | Ears of Corn and Sickle |
| 5. | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Hammer, Sickle and Star |
| 6. | Indian National Congress | Hand |
| 7. | Nationalist Congress Party | Clock |
In India, a multi-party system is the multi-party party system in which small regional parties are more powerful. National parties are those who are recognized in four or more states. There are 24 regional parties in India at this time-
| Sl. No. | Name of the State/Union Territory | Name of the State Party | Symbol |
1.
|
Andhra Pradesh | 1. Telangana Rashtra Samithi | Car |
| 2. Telugu Desam | Bicycle | ||
| 3. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party | Ceiling Fan | ||
| 2. | Arunachal Pradesh | 1. People’s Party of Arunachal | Maize |
| 3. | Assam | 1. All India United Democratic Front | Lock & Key |
| 2. Asom Gana Parishad | Elephant | ||
| 3. Bodoland Peoples Front | Nangol | ||
| 4. | Bihar | 1. Janata Dal (United) | Arrow |
| 2. Lok Jan Shakti Party | Bungalow | ||
| 3. Rashtriya Janata Dal | Hurricane Lamp | ||
| 4. Rashtriya Lok Samta Party | Ceiling Fan | ||
| 5. | Goa | 1. Maharashtrawadi Gomantak | Lion |
| 2. Goa Forward Party | Coconut | ||
| 6. | Haryana | Indian National Lok Dal | Spectacles |
| 7. | Jammu & Kashmir | 1. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference | Plough |
| 2. Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party | Bicycle | ||
| 3. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party | Ink Pot & Pen | ||
| 8. | Jharkhand | 1. AJSU Party | Banana |
| 2. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha | Bow & Arrow | ||
| 3. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) | Comb | ||
| 4. Rashtriya Janata Dal | Hurricane Lamp | ||
| 9. | Karnataka | 1. Janata Dal (Secular) | A Lady Farmer carrying Paddy on her head |
| 10. | Kerala | 1. Janata Dal (Secular) | A Lady Farmer carrying Paddy on her head |
| 2. Kerala Congress (M) | Two Leaves | ||
| 3. Indian Union Muslim League | Ladder | ||
| 4. Revolutionary Socialist Party | Spade & Stoker | ||
| 11. | Maharashtra | 1. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | Railway Engine |
| 2. Shiv Sena | Bow and Arrow | ||
| 12. | Manipur | 1. Naga Peoples Front | Cock |
| 2. People's Democratic Alliance | Crown | ||
| 3. National People’s Party | Book | ||
| 13. | Meghalaya | 1. United Democratic Party | Drum |
| 2. Hill State People’s Democratic Party | Lion | ||
| 3. National People’s Party | Book | ||
| 14. | Mizoram | 1. Mizo National Front | Star |
| 2. Mizoram People’s Conference | Electric Bulb | ||
| 3. Zoram Nationalist Party | Sun (without rays) | ||
| 15. | Nagaland | Naga Peoples Front | Cock |
16.
|
N.C.T. of Delhi | Aam Aadmi Party | Broom |
| 17. | Odisha | Biju Janata Dal | Conch |
| 18. | Puducherry | 1. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Two Leaves |
| 2. All India N.R. Congress | Jug | ||
| 3. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Rising Sun | ||
| 4. Pattali Makkal Katchi | Mango | ||
| 19. | Punjab | 1. Shiromani Akali Dal | Scales |
| 2. Aam Aadmi Party | Broom | ||
| 20. | Sikkim | 1. Sikkim Democratic Front | Umbrella |
| 2. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha | Table Lamp | ||
| 21. | Tamil Nadu | 1. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Two leaves |
| 2. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | Rising Sun | ||
| 3. Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam | Nagara | ||
| 22. | Telangana | 1. All India Majlis-EIttehadul Muslimeen | Kite |
| 2. Telangana Rashtra Samithi | Car | ||
| 3. Telugu Desam | Bicycle | ||
| 4. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party | Ceiling Fan | ||
| 23. | Uttar Pradesh | 1. Rashtriya Lok Dal | Hand Pump |
| 2. Samajwadi Party | Bicycle | ||
24.
|
West Bengal | 1. All India Forward Bloc | Lion |
| 2. Revolutionary Socialist Party | Spade & Stoker |
Remember that after getting recognition as a national or state party, no other party can use the symbol of that party in the country. Apart from this, such parties are given land or buildings on behalf of the government for setting up their offices. In such elections, such parties can keep up to 40-star campaigners whereas the other party can hold 20-star campaigners.
At the same time, the Election Commission had amended a rule on August 22 under which it will review any national or state party status in 10 years instead of five years.
