The Election Commission has deregistered 334 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) due to their failure to participate in elections since 2019. This action, taken on August 9th, is a part of the commission’s efforts to cleanse the electoral system. These parties, which benefited from tax exemptions and other privileges, did not meet the requirement of contesting elections within the specified timeframe.
Under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, all political parties in India are registered with the ECI, entitling them to certain advantages. The ECI’s decision followed an assessment that revealed a substantial number of RUPPs were not adhering to the necessary guidelines. Prior to the deregistration, the respective CEOs of the states and union territories were instructed to issue show-cause notices to these parties, allowing them to present their cases. After reviewing the responses, the commission determined that 334 parties should be removed from the list.