Question

Differentiate between National and Regional Parties.

Answer 1

Instructions: Compare the elections they contest, presence in states, electoral symbols, issues they focus on and give some examples.

Solution:

National Parties	Regional Parties
1. Participate in elections all over India	1. Participate in elections within a state
2. Must be strong in at least 4 states across India	2. Must be strong in one or two states
3. They have an exclusive electoral symbol throughout the country	3. Their symbol is reserved only in the state they are recognised in.
4. Two different national parties cannot have the same electoral symbol.	4. Two different regional parties can have the same electoral symbol. Example- JMM in Jharkhand and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra both use Bow and Arrow symbol.
5. They focus on national, regional and international issues.	5. They promote regional and state interests.
6. Examples- Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India.	6. Examples- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK), Shiv Sena and Aam Aadmi Party.