Explain the following concepts.

National Parties

The political parties that secure a minimum of 6% valid votes in four (or more) States in the Loksabha or State Assembly elections and has minimum of its 4 elected members in the Loksabha, are recogised as National Parties. E.g. Indian National Congress (INC), Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI).

Another criteria for recognition as a National Parties mandates that the candidates of a party should be elected from minimum of 2% of total Loksabha constituency and minimum of 3 states.