The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified its nationwide effort to clean up the electoral system by initiating proceedings to delist another 476 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs).
Under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, political parties—whether national, state, or RUPPs—must contest at least one election every six years to remain on the register. Registration offers privileges such as a reserved symbol and tax exemptions. Failure to contest polls for six consecutive years can lead to removal from the list of registered parties.
The clean-up drive began in 2019 as part of a continuous strategy to ensure transparency. In the first round, completed on 9 August 2025, the ECI delisted 334 RUPPs, reducing the total from 2,854 to 2,520.
In this second round, 476 more RUPPs from various states and Union Territories have been identified. State and UT Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) will now issue show-cause notices to these parties, offering them an opportunity to explain their position. Hearings will be conducted by the concerned CEOs before final decisions are made.
The ECI stated that the final delisting orders will be passed only after reviewing the CEOs’ reports to ensure no party is unduly removed.
