Why in the news?

  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently de-listed a total of 474 more Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP) for flouting norms, including not contesting elections in the last six years.

De-Listing of Political Parties

  • What is it?:
    • Removal of a party from the list maintained by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
    • Applies to parties that are inactive, non-compliant, or have ceased to exist.
  • Legal Status:
    • No explicit provision for de-registration under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA).
    • ECI can de-recognize parties (take away State/National status) and delete names symbolically from active lists.
  • De-registration is Allowed Only in Cases of:
    • Fraudulent registration.
    • Party ceasing to exist or voluntarily dissolving.

Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP)

  • Registered Under:  Section 29A of RPA, 1951.
  • RUPP Include:
    • Newly registered parties.
    • Parties that did not secure enough votes/seats to be recognized as state or national parties.
    • Parties that have never contested elections since registration.
  • Status  and Benefits:
    • Do not enjoy benefits extended to recognized parties (e.g., reserved symbol, free airtime on state media).
    • Can contest elections but must choose from free symbols each time.
  • Symbol Allocation:
    • Governed by the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
    • Eligible for a common symbol if they contest at least 5% of total seats in a legislative assembly election of a state.
  • Revised Guidelines:
    • Must submit:
      • Election expenditure statements for the last two elections contested.
      • Contribution reports.
      • Audited annual accounts for the last three financial years.