Electoral Commission Revokes Registration of 334 Regional Unit Polling Pierces Due to Violations of Electoral Laws, Following Businessline Investigation Months Prior
334 Political Parties Delisted by ECI for Non-Compliance
In a significant move to clean up the electoral system, the Election Commission of India (ECI) delisted 334 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) on August 9, 2025. The primary reason for this action was the parties' failure to contest any elections for the last six years (since 2019) and their inability to be physically traced at their registered office addresses [1][4].
The delisted RUPPs are now ineligible to avail benefits under the Representation of the People Act, the Income Tax Act, and provisions related to election symbols. They are barred from fielding candidates in upcoming elections until they appeal and comply with conditions. The delisting affects their tax exemptions and electoral privileges [1][4].
The process began in June 2025 when the ECI directed State and UT Chief Electoral Officers to verify the compliance of 345 parties. Following verifications and recommendations, 334 parties were delisted, reducing the total RUPPs from 2,854 to 2,520 nationwide. Subsequently, proceedings have started against another 476 parties for similar reasons, indicating a continued purge effort [1][2][3].
The ECI conducted enquiries, issued show-cause notices, and provided each party an opportunity to respond and present their case through personal hearings. Based on reports of the CEOs, 334 RUPPs were found not complying with the conditions set by the ECI [1].
In addition, the CCI has ordered the Director General (DG) to investigate the tagging of other products with subsidised urea, and the Income Tax Department has extracted more than ₹100 crore from donors who funded RUPPs to avail tax exemption [1].
It is important to note that no new RUPPs have been registered since 2014, and information about the companies' India plans was not provided in the article. However, the number of companies removed from RoC on a voluntary basis has crossed 8,600 in the first three and a half months of FY26 [1].
This delisting comes five months after businessline exposed laundering of ₹10,000 crore political donations by such parties over two years from 2022. The measure also aims to prevent misuse of political party registration for illicit financial activities [4][5].
Any party aggrieved by the delisting order can appeal to the Commission within 30 days of the order. The ECI encourages all parties to comply with the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and guidelines for registration of parties to maintain a transparent and fair electoral system.
References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eci-delists-334-registered-unrecognised-political-parties/article65525255.ece
[2] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/eci-delists-334-registered-unrecognised-political-parties-for-non-compliance-2888166
[3] https://www.deccanherald.com/national/eci-delists-334-registered-unrecognised-political-parties-for-non-compliance-with-conditions-858745.html
[4] https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-eci-s-clean-up-act/article65525188.ece
[5] https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/eci-delists-334-registered-unrecognised-political-parties-for-non-compliance-with-conditions-122080800650_1.html
- The delisting of 334 political parties by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been driven by their non-compliance with conditions set by the ECI, as they failed to contest any elections for six years and could not be physically traced at their registered office addresses.
- Despite the delisting, any affected party can appeal to the Commission within 30 days, encouraging all parties to comply with the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and guidelines for party registration to maintain a transparent and fair electoral system.
- The delisting is an effort to prevent misuse of political party registration for illicit financial activities, as it aimed to curb the laundering of ₹10,000 crore political donations exposed by businessline in the previous five months.
- The ECI's move not only affects the political parties' tax exemptions and electoral privileges but also extends to their inability to avail benefits under the Representation of the People Act, the Income Tax Act, and provisions related to election symbols.
