The Nationalist Congress Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India may lose their national party status following their performance in the Lok Sabha elections with the Election Commission Thursday issuing them a show-cause notice.

The parties have reportedly been asked to explain why their national party status should not be revoked by the poll panel. The Election Commission has asked all parties to submit their responses to the notice by August 5.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the NCP had won six seats. This time it won five. It also did not do well in the Maharashtra assembly polls. Similarly, the TMC won 34 seats in 2014 LS polls and managed 22 this time.

The CPI won two in this election and one in 2014. But its performance in West Bengal and other states in assembly polls was dismal.

As per the EC rulebook, Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, ‘national status’ is conferred on a party if its candidates secure at least 6% of the votes polled in a state in a Lok Sabha election, or if four of its MPs get re-elected from any state, or if it wins at least 2% of the seats in the Lok Sabha in the last general elections, or if the party is recognised as a state party in at least four states.