A recognised political party has been classified as a National
Party or a State Party. If a political party is recognised in four
or more states, it is considered as a National Party. The
Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal, Communist Party of
India and Communist Party of India (Marxist) are the prominent
National Parties in the Country. Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh,
Asom Gana Parishad in Assam, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Bihar,
Maharashtrwad Gomantak Party in Goa, National Conference in Jammu
and Kashmir, Muslim League in Kerala, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra,
Akali Dal in Punjab, All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, Bahujan Samaj Party and
Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and All-India Forward Block in
West Bengal are the prominent state parties.
Eleven Lok Sabhas have been constituted so far. Except for the
short-lived Sixth and Ninth Lok Sabha, the Congress Party ruled
the country. The Sixth Lok Sabha functioned for about two years
and four months and the Ninth Lok Sabha functioned for one year
and two months.
Even in the states, the regional parties or the non-congress
parties have gained in importance over the years. The ruling
parties in the states are listed below.