The Election Commission of India has raised the cap of minimum votes a political party must secure in an election to get the status of a state party or maintain it further. The new minimum limit is eight per cent of total valid votes polled in state Assembly or Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier, the limit was six per cent. Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said the guidelines have been changed for recognition of state political parties following representations from across the country.

The Election Commission will now give recognition to political parties on the basis of total number of votes polled and not on the number of seats it gets.