Election Commission Deregisters 474 Unrecognised Political Parties

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) have been dropped due to not having contested an election in the last 6 years. This step is contained in a bigger initiative of sweeping the electoral process to leave in the system only active and compliant parties. By this move, the 808 who have been removed among the RUPPs alone in the last two months leaves 2,046 of these parties still on record.

Why RUPPs Are Registered

As required in Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, political groups may be registered by the ECI to enjoy privileges which includes being given election symbols as a privilege and also tax exemptions. Registration, however, comes with its own burden such as being involved in elections, and ensuring good financial disclosures.

Reasons for Delisting

The defeated parties never challenged the elections in six consecutive years. Some other violations included a failure to provide audited annual accounts of three financial years, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, or failure to file required expenditure reports even after challenging elections. This lack of compliance compromises transparency and accountability during political financing, which is harshly dealt with by the Commission.

The Process of Removal

Election Commission takes a systematic premise towards delisting. States and Union Territories which have Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) send show-cause notices to parties who fail to honor their commitments and allow them an opportunity to justify or correct lapses. The CEOs compile reports based on the responses and hearings and the final decision is made by the ECI.

Impact of the Cleanup

This massive disenfranchisement simplifies the political registration so that only the serious and viable parties remain entitled to electoral privileges. It also makes the electoral process more transparent and credible because it eliminates clutter to the voters and election officials. The ECI will eliminate inactive outfits thereby reducing abuse of registration benefits, especially in the area of funds.

What Lies Ahead

As of now, 2,046 RUPPs are registered, and there are 359 parties that are still under investigation due to financial and compliance-based abnormalities. The Commission has indicated that it will remain on high alert to protect the integrity of the democratic system in India.

The recent move is a sign of the outright message by the ECI: there will be no places in the political scene of the country to accountable and active parties.