Election Commission Removes 334 Inactive Parties From Official Records

The Election Commission (EC) has delisted 334 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) across states and Union Territories for failing to contest a single election in the last six years and for being untraceable.

Announcing the move on Saturday, the EC said the action is part of its ongoing effort to weed out inactive political entities and maintain transparency in the electoral process. These parties had not participated in any election since 2019, and their offices could not be physically located.

The cleanup exercise began in June 2025, with proceedings initiated against 345 such parties. It ultimately led to the removal of 334 from the rolls. Similar actions have been taken three to four times since 2001. Officials noted that in the past, some RUPPs were found violating income tax norms and anti-money laundering laws, misusing privileges available under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Registered political parties under this section enjoy benefits such as tax exemptions, which the EC says should be reserved for active participants in the democratic process.

Number of RUPPs Reduced

Before this exercise, India had 2,854 registered unrecognised political parties. Following the delisting, the number has dropped to 2,520. The country currently has six national parties and 67 state parties.

Supreme Court Ruling and EC's Approach

While the Supreme Court has barred the EC from "derecognising" political parties under existing laws, the poll body uses the delisting method instead. Delisted parties can be reinstated in the future without undergoing the full recognition process again.