The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a significant step towards cleaning up the electoral system by delisting 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) for flouting norms, including not contesting elections in the last six years for failing to contest elections for six consecutive years. The move comes ahead of the Bihar polls. The parties de-listed cannot field their candidates in elections.
According to the EC, there were 2,520 RUPPs. After the delisting exercise, 2,046 RUPPs remain. Besides, there are six recognised national parties and 67 State parties.
The 474 delisted RUPPs are from 30 different States and Union Territories (UTs), with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of delisted parties (121), followed by Maharashtra (44) , Tamil Nadu (42), Delhi (40), Madhya Pradesh (23), Punjab (21), Rajasthan (17), Andhra Pradesh (17), Haryana (17) and Bihar (15).
The EC said it has started the proceedings to delist 359 more RUPPs across the country, which failed to meet the essential conditions needed to retain this status. These parties span 23 States and Union Territories, with Uttar Pradesh (127), Tamil Nadu (39) and Delhi (41) accounting for the bulk of non-compliant organisations.
EC de-lists 474 registered political parties In the first phase of the exercise, the EC de-listed 334 RUPPs on August 9.“In continuation, in the second phase, ECI delisted 474 RUPPs on September 18, 2025 based on non-contestation in elections conducted by ECI continuously for 6 years. Thus, 808 RUPPs have been delisted in the last two months. To take this initiative further, 359 such RUPPs have been identified, for having not submitted their Annual Audited Accounts in the last three financial years (ie 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) within the stipulated time period and have contested elections but not filed Election Expenditure Reports. These are from 23 different States and UTs across the country,” the EC said.
The move is part of the EC’s ongoing efforts to ensure that only active and legitimate political parties are registered with the commission. According to the poll body, under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, political parties registered with the ECI enjoy privileges such as election symbols and tax exemptions. However, guidelines clearly state that parties failing to participate in elections continuously for six years are liable to be removed from the register.
To ensure that no party is unduly delisted, the CEOs of the respective States/UTs have been directed to issue show-cause notices to these RUPPs. Following this, the parties will be given an opportunity for a hearing by the concerned CEOs. The ECI takes the final decision on the delisting of any RUPPs based on the reports of the CEOs.In the first phase of the exercise, the EC de-listed 334 RUPPs on August 9.
“In continuation, in the second phase, ECI delisted 474 RUPPs on September 18, 2025 based on non-contestation in elections conducted by ECI continuously for 6 years. Thus, 808 RUPPs have been delisted in the last two months. To take this initiative further, 359 such RUPPs have been identified, for having not submitted their Annual Audited Accounts in the last three financial years (ie 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) within the stipulated time period and have contested elections but not filed Election Expenditure Reports. These are from 23 different States and UTs across the country,” the EC said. The move is part of the EC’s ongoing efforts to ensure that only active and legitimate political parties are registered with the commission. According to the poll body, under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, political parties registered with the ECI enjoy privileges such as election symbols and tax exemptions. However, guidelines clearly state that parties failing to participate in elections continuously for six years are liable to be removed from the register.
In order to ensure that no party is unduly delisted, the CEOs of the respective States/UTs have been directed to issue show-cause notices to these RUPPs, following which, the parties will be given an opportunity through a hearing by the concerned CEOs. The ECI takes the final decision on the delisting of any RUPPs based on the reports of the CEOs.