ECI Deregisters 334 NR Political Parties for Failing to Contest Polls
CEC Gyanesh Kumar & ECs had an interaction with a delegation from Lok Janshakti Party! (Image ECI )
Move aims to cleanse electoral system; Affected parties can appeal within 30 days
By KUMAR VIKRAM
NEW DELHI, August 9, 2025 — In a move aimed to cleaning up the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday deregistered 334 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) across the country for failing to contest a single election over the past six years.
These parties, spread across various states and Union Territories, had been availing privileges such as income tax exemptions granted under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. However, they did not meet the mandatory requirement of contesting at least one Lok Sabha, Assembly, or by-election since 2019.
The ECI began reviewing such inactive parties in June, identifying over 345 RUPPs that had not participated in elections and whose physical existence could not be verified. Chief Electoral Officers in respective states and UTs were instructed to issue show-cause notices, giving the parties an opportunity to present their case. After hearings, 334 were found to be in violation of the six-year contest rule and were removed from the register.
With this action, India now has six national parties, 67 state parties, and 2,854 registered unrecognised political parties. The ECI has warned that the exercise will continue, and any party failing to contest for six consecutive years will be struck off the list.
The deregistered RUPPs will no longer enjoy benefits under Sections 29B and 29C of the RP Act, including tax exemptions and access to certain electoral privileges. However, affected parties may file an appeal against the decision within 30 days.
Political observers state that several political parties are formed to take advantage of the election process for varied purposes. “Some of the political parties after getting recognition indulge in the business of providing logistics support to the mainstream parties. They also help them in ducking the ceiling on election expenses foxed by the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls,” said Manish Anand, a Delhi-based political observer.
It has also been noted that several outfits form political parties as elections have become thriving business in the last few decades. Political observers claim that such outfits may also be indulging as fronts for several political activities on behalf of the mainstream political parties.
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