ECI Delists 474 More Political Parties in Second Phase of Electoral Cleanup

This follows the delisting of 334 RUPPs on August 9, 2025, bringing the total to 808 parties removed from the registry in just two months.

The action is based on provisions under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates that political parties must contest elections at least once every six years to retain their registration. These delisted parties failed to meet that requirement since 2019.

In addition, the ECI has initiated proceedings against 359 more RUPPs for failing to submit Annual Audited Accounts for the last three financial years (2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24) and for not filing Election Expenditure Reports, despite contesting elections. These parties span 23 states and union territories.

To ensure fairness, the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of the respective regions have been directed to issue show-cause notices to the concerned parties. Hearings will be conducted before any final delisting decision is made, based on the CEOs’ reports.

The ECI reiterated its commitment to a transparent and accountable electoral system, emphasizing that privileges such as tax exemptions and election symbols must be earned through active participation and compliance.

State-wisedistributionofRUPPsidentifiedforthirdphaseofdelisting