Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced proceedings to delist 345 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs). This action targets parties that have failed to meet essential conditions for their continued registration, specifically:

• Failure to Contest Elections: These parties have not contested even a single election for the past six years, since 2019.
• Non-Locatable Offices: The physical offices of these parties could not be found anywhere.

These 345 RUPPs are spread across various States and Union Territories nationwide.

Background and Process:

• Total RUPPs: The ECI currently has over 2,800 RUPPs registered, and it has come to the Commission’s notice that many of them do not fulfill the necessary conditions for continued recognition.
• Registration Basis: Political parties (National, State, or RUPPs) are registered with the ECI under the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• Privileges of Registration: Once registered as a political party, they gain certain privileges and advantages, including tax exemptions.
• Statutory Requirements: Section 29A of the RP Act mandates that every political party must promptly communicate any change in its name, head office, office bearers, address, or PAN to the Commission.
• Common Symbol Privilege: RUPPs are granted the privilege of a common symbol based on an undertaking to field at least 5% of the total candidates in a State’s legislative assembly election.
• Final Decision: The final decision regarding the delisting of any RUPP rests solely with the Election Commission of India.

(Source: PIB)