Election Commission delists 474 more registered unrecognised parties for flouting norms

In the first round of the exercise, the poll panel delisted 334 registered unrecognised political parties on August 9

New Delhi: In a second such exercise in 40 days, the Election Commission on Friday delisted 474 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), including a whopping 121 from Uttar Pradesh and 10 from Karnataka, for not fulfilling the condition of contesting at least a single election in the past six years.

With this, it has delisted 808 RUPPs — the first round being on August 9 when 334 faced action — while action against 359 more such parties are in the pipeline by issuing notices to them.

The latest action, which bars these parties from collecting donations and claiming income tax exemptions, among other things, came following issuing notices to 476 RUPPs on August 11. In 2022, the Election Commission had taken action against 537 RUPPs for various violations, including delisting 284 RUPPs.

Ten parties delisted in the second round of exercise are from Karnataka and they include Akhila Bharatiya Rytha Party, Badavara Shramikara Raitara Congress Party, Bhaarateeya Janashakthi Congress, Bharatiya Rashtriya Mahila Sarvodaya Congress and Dr Ambedkar Samajvadi Democratic Party.

Others are Jana Samanyara Party (Karnataka), Manava Party, Praja Parivartan Party, Shubha Karnataka and Young India Tangress Party. Twelve RUPPs from Karnataka were delisted on August 9.

In the poll-bound Bihar, 15 parties have been delisted. While Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 121 parties being delisted, Maharashtra has 44 such parties, Tamil Nadu 42 and Delhi 40.

With this, there are six national parties, 67 State parties and 2,046 RUPPs registered with the Election Commission. The Election Commission has maintained that the delisting exercise is part of a comprehensive and continuous strategy to clean up the electoral system.

A section of such RUPPs are accused of violating income tax laws and anti-money laundering laws. A registered party gets benefits like entitlement to accept contribution, income tax exemptions as well as facility of common symbol, preference over independent candidates on ballot paper and star campaigners.

Following a Supreme Court order, the Election Commission cannot “derecognise” erring parties as a provision for derecognising a party is not provided in the law. In such a scenario, the Election Commission has devised the method of ‘delisting’ parties, which can regain its registration afresh if it can convince the poll panel that its credentials are in order.

The 474 parties impacted by the order have been given 30 days time appeal to the Election Commission against the order. The action came after Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) conducted inquiries, issued show-cause notices and provided them an opportunity to respond and present their case through personal hearings.