EC to delist 345 registered unrecognized parties found flouting norms

The Election Commission of India on Thursday, 26 June, said it has started proceedings for delisting of 345 registered unrecognized political parties (RUPPs) which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting even a single election in the last six years since 2019.

The offices of these parties could also not be physically located anywhere, the ECI claimed.

These RUPPs are from different states and UTs across the country, it said.

The Supreme Court had earlier barred EC from "derecognising" political parties noting that it was not prescribed under law.

However, the EC has found a way to "delist parties". Parties delisted can be listed again by the poll authority without getting into the process of giving them fresh recognition, a former EC functionary pointed out.

Apart from over 2,800 RUPPs, there are six national and 67 state- recognised political parties in the country.

It has come to the notice of the Commission that of over 2,800 RUPPs, currently registered with it, many have failed to fulfil the essential conditions which are required to continue as an RUPP, the officials said.

Following this, a nationwide exercise was conducted by the EC to identify such parties. A total of 345 RUPPs not fulfilling certain conditions have already been identified till now, they said. These have been identified in the first phase of this exercise, the EC said.

The move comes ahead of Bihar elections later this year. Parties delisted cannot field their candidates to contest elections.