NEW DELHI, June 27: In a major move to streamline the electoral system, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated proceedings to delist 345 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) that have remained inactive since 2019 and whose offices could not be physically located. The decision is part of a broader effort to cleanse the political registry and ensure accountability among registered parties.
According to the ECI, these parties, spread across various States and Union Territories, have failed to contest any Lok Sabha, State/UT Legislative Assembly, or bye-elections since 2019—violating the basic requirements under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Registered political parties enjoy several privileges, including income tax exemptions, which makes compliance with election participation criteria essential.
To ensure due process, the ECI has directed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of the concerned States and UTs to issue show-cause notices to the identified parties. These parties will be given the opportunity to explain their inactivity in hearings before the respective CEOs. The final decision on delisting will rest with the ECI following these proceedings.
This action marks the first phase of a larger review aimed at maintaining the integrity of the electoral system and preventing misuse of registration benefits by non-functional or fictitious political entities.
