In a major push to clean up India’s electoral system, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has started the process to remove another 476 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) from its official list. This comes after the parties failed to meet a crucial requirement: not contesting a single election for six consecutive years.
This move is part of the ECI’s ongoing effort to ensure that only active and legitimate political organizations benefit from the privileges of registration. This is the second phase of a comprehensive crackdown; just last week, on August 9, the ECI delisted 334 similar parties.
The ECI has now directed election officials in various states and union territories to issue formal notices to these 476 parties. This gives them a chance to respond and present their case at a hearing before the final decision is made.
Under the law, being a registered political party provides significant advantages, including access to a party symbol and tax exemptions. The ECI’s guidelines state that to maintain these privileges, a party must participate in elections at least once every six years. By delisting inactive parties, the ECI aims to promote transparency and prevent these benefits from being misused.