A political party is recognised by the Election Commission only if: 1. it has been engaged in political activity for a continuous period of five years. 2. has returned at least one member of the Lok Sabha for every 2Smembers of that House or any fraction of that number elected from that State. 3. has polled not less than six percent of the total number of valid votes polled by all contesting candidates at the general elections. 4. has contested election in four or more States in three consecutive general elections.