Election Commission is going to take big decision, registration of 345 parties will be canceled

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has decided to remove 345 non-recognized registered political parties (RUPPS) from its list. These are the parties that have not contested a single election in the last 6 years and no office was found at their registered address. The Election Commission said that these 345 parties, spread over various states and union territories across the country, did not fulfill the mandatory conditions of being registered as a registered unrestrist political party. The Commission currently has more than 2800 Rupps registered, but many of these parties are neither contesting nor proving their presence.

What are the rules for cancellation of registration?

According to the Rules of the Election Commission, under Section 29A of the Representation of the Representation Act, 1951, and under the Election Symbol (Reservation and Allocation) Order, 1968, if any registered party does not participate in the Lok Sabha, Assembly or local body elections for 6 consecutive years, its registration can be canceled. Such parties are often present only on paper and can be involved in tax exemption, money laundering or other illegal activities. The Commission performed physical verification of the registered addresses of these parties, in which these parties were not found present.

86 rupps were removed in 2022

The Election Commission said in its statement that these 345 parties are from different states and union territories of the country. Many of these parties also did not even report the change in their address to the Commission, which is a violation of the rules. Earlier in 2022, the Commission had removed 86 non-existent Rupps and declared 253 as ‘passive’. This time too, the Commission has decided to remove the passive parties. With this step, these parties will stop the benefits like free election symbols and other facilities. This step will not only strengthen the political process, but will also increase the trust of the voters.

What is Rupp and why action is being taken?

Explain that registered unreserved political parties (rupps) are the parties that are either newly registered, or who did not get enough votes in the assembly or Lok Sabha elections to get the status of state or national party, or who never contested after registration. Such parties do not get all facilities like recognized parties, but they get some rights, such as allocation of common election symbol (Common Symbal). The Election Commission found that many rupps are misusing these facilities, so this action is being taken against them.

‘Such action will continue in future also’

The Commission clarified that it will continue such action in future so that only active and legitimate parties remain registered. Under Section 29A of the Representation Act, 1951, the registered parties have to inform the Commission about the change in their offices, office bearers and other details. If a party does not contest an election for six years or does not get its office verification, then it can be removed as a non-existent. This rule is designed to prevent money refinement and electoral fraud.