The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that its victory in three Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh is a step towards regaining national party status. “We are thrilled to announce that the Nationalist Congress Party has won 3 Vidhan Sabha seats and secured more than 10 per cent of the vote share in Arunachal Pradesh. This incredible success marks a significant step on our journey to regaining National Party status. With previous victories in Maharashtra, Nagaland, and now Arunachal Pradesh, we are just one state away from achieving our goal,” said Praful Patel, NCP’s working president. The results of assembly polls held in Arunachal Pradesh were announced on Sunday with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning the majority. In April 2023, the united NCP lost its national party status which it had gained in 2000. As per the Election Commission of India’s order in 2023, it lost state party status in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. To earn a national party status, a party needs to be recognised as a state party in four states, for which it needs to win at least two seats in assembly and secure a minimum six per cent votes in the state. Following the split in the NCP, the group led by Ajit Pawar has been recognised as the original party. The six MLAs from Nagaland have already extended support to the party and with addition of three MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh, the NCP inch closer to regaining its national party status. The party’s chief national spokesperson, Brijmohan Shrivastav, said that the victory is attributed to the enthusiastic efforts of party workers and leaders in Arunachal Pradesh. “As we embark on forming the new assembly for the next five years, we pledge to uphold the principles of transparency, integrity and inclusive governance,” he said.
