Section 122 in The West Bengal Panchayat Elections Act, 2003
122. Local political party.
(1)A political party shall be recognised as a local political party if it -(i)has been engaged in political activity for a continuous period of five years, and(ii)has at least one elected member in any tier of Panchayats for every existing twenty-five members elected to that tier of Panchayat from the area of a sub-division of a district or, if there is no elected body of Panchayat in that sub-division, one elected member in the Municipality or Municipalities for every existing twenty-five members elected to the Municipality or Municipalities within the area of that sub-division.(2)Any association or body of individual citizens of India calling itself a political party and intending to be recognised as a local political party may make an application, in such manner as may be prescribed, to the Commission for recognition as a local political party.(3)After considering all particulars in its possession and any other information that may be necessary and after giving the representatives of that political party the opportunity of being heard, the Commission shall either recognise that political party as a local political party for the purpose of this Act or decide not to recognise it as a local political party.(4)The decision of the Commission shall be final.
