New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has delisted 334 political parties from different states and Union Territories across the country.
These are all registered but unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting any election for six years since 2019.
“Guidelines for registration of Political Parties mention that if the party does not contest elections continuously for 6 years, the party shall be taken off the list of registered parties,” ECI said in a statement on Saturday.
“Earlier, in June 2025, ECI had directed the CEOs of States & UTs to conduct verification enquiries of 345 RUPPs regarding compliance with the above conditions. CEOs conducted enquiries, issued showcause notices to these RUPPs and provided each party an opportunity to respond and present their case through personal hearings,” the poll panel said.
It was found that 334 RUPPs did not comply with the conditions, and their address could not be located. “The Commission, after considering all the facts and recommendations of the CEOs, has delisted 334 RUPPs. Now, out of the total of 2854 RUPPs, 2520 are remaining,” ECI said.
The delisting exercise is part of a continuous strategy of the Election Commission to clean up the electoral system.
According to ECI officials, the poll panel has weeded out defunct RUPPs “three to four” times since 2001.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had barred ECI from “derecognising” political parties, saying that it was not prescribed under law.
Hence, ECI has found a way by “delisting” parties, which can be listed again by the poll authority without getting into the process of giving them fresh recognition.
There are 6 National Parties and 67 State Parties in India as of now.
