KATHMANDU, Jan 19: The Election Commission (EC) has proposed a legal amendment requiring political parties to win federal parliamentary elections from at least three provinces to qualify for national party recognition.
The draft amendment to the Political Parties Act outlines this provision, emphasizing that a federal MP includes members of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. However, recognition as a national party will depend solely on securing representatives in the House of Representatives from three provinces.
EC officials said that national party recognition will be determined immediately following the House of Representatives elections, making it unnecessary to consider National Assembly members in this context.
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Under Section 52 of the current Political Parties Act 2073, a party must secure 3 percent of votes in proportional representation and at least one directly elected seat in the House of Representatives to gain national party status. The proposed draft expands this with five new criteria, including the requirement for direct representation from at least three provinces.
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya said that the aim of these amendments is to streamline and strengthen the process for recognizing national parties.
The draft also requires parties seeking national recognition to cross the electoral threshold, maintain a nationwide organizational structure, and ensure inclusivity within their party framework.
The proposed amendments will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs before advancing them to the Council of Ministers for approval. Once endorsed by parliament, the provisions will become law.
Officials believe these changes will strengthen political parties and promote a more representative and inclusive political system.
