National Party: A party that secures at least six per cent of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.According to this classification, there were six national recognised parties in the country in 2006.\tIndian National Congress (INC): This is popularly known as the Congress Party. This is one of the oldest parties of the world and was founded in 1885. The Congress Party had played a dominant role in Indian politics at the national and state level for several decades after India’s Independence. Since the first general elections in 1952, the Congress party had been in power continuously till 1977. After that, it came back to power in 1980 and remained till 1989. The Congress Party once again came back to power in 1991 for another five years. Congress Party came back in power in 2004 and completed two terms in office, i.e. ten years.\tBharatiya Janata Party (BJP): This party was founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Building a strong and modern India is the main goal of this party. The BJP wants to promote cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva). This party wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform civil code and a ban on religious conversions. It support base increased significantly in the 1990s. The Party came to power in 1998 and remained in power till 2004. This party stormed back to power in centre in 2014.\tBahujan Samaj Party (BSP): This party was formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram. The party seeks to represent and secure power for the bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities. This party has good presence in Uttar Pradesh and has been in power in UP for a couple of terms.\tCommunist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M): This party was founded in 1964. Marxism- Leninism is the main philosophy of this party and it supports socialism, secularism. The party enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, especially among the poor, factory workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia. The CPI has off late slipped in its hold over public and has lost power in West Bengal and Kerala.\tCommunist Party of India (CPI): This party was formed in 1925. It has the same philosophy as CPI (M). Became weak after the split in the party in 1964 that led to the formation of the CPI(M). Significant presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Its support base had gradually declined over the years. It secured about 1.4 per cent votes and 10 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Advocates the coming together of all left parties to build a strong left front. Initially supported the UPA government from outside, but withdrew support in late 2008.\tNationalist Congress Party (NCP): This party was formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress party. The party espouses democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism. This is a major party in Maharashtra and has a significant presence in Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam.