Context:
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has continued its drive to clean up the electoral ecosystem by removing inactive and non-compliant political parties.
- On September 18, the EC delisted 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) for failing to contest elections for a prolonged period.
- This follows an earlier action in August, reflecting sustained institutional efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and seriousness in political participation.
Key Highlights:
Government Initiative / Policy Details:
- 474 RUPPs delisted on September 18 for not contesting elections for six consecutive years.
- Earlier, 334 RUPPs were delisted on August 9, taking the total delisted parties to 808 within two months.
- The action is in line with ECI guidelines governing the registration and continuation of political parties.
Data, Targets, Schemes Mentioned:
- After delisting:
- 2,046 RUPPs remain registered
- 6 recognised national parties
- 67 recognised state parties
- 359 RUPPs identified for non-submission of annual audited accounts for the last three financial years.
- Among the delisted parties, 14 belong to Bihar, where Assembly elections are scheduled in November.
Stakeholders Involved:
- Election Commission of India (ECI)
- Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
- Voters and civil society, affected by electoral transparency
- State election machinery, especially in election-bound states
Significance / Concerns:
- Addresses misuse of tax exemptions and political funding channels by dormant parties.
- Enhances credibility of the electoral system by removing non-serious entities.
- Raises concerns about financial opacity, especially non-filing of audited accounts.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Proliferation of inactive political parties not participating in elections.
- Causes:
- Registration without sustained political activity
- Non-compliance with financial disclosure norms
- Government Initiatives:
- Periodic ECI-led verification and delisting exercises (ongoing since 2001).
- Enforcement of six-year non-contestation rule.
- Benefits:
- Prevents misuse of electoral and financial privileges.
- Streamlines the party system, improving voter clarity.
- Challenges:
- Monitoring compliance across thousands of parties.
- Balancing freedom of association with regulatory oversight.
- Impact:
- Strengthens electoral integrity and transparency.
- Reduces administrative burden on election authorities.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Provisions:
- Registered Unrecognised Political Party (RUPP): A party registered with ECI but not fulfilling criteria for state or national recognition.
- Election Commission of India: An autonomous constitutional body under Article 324 responsible for conducting free and fair elections.
- Delisting: Removal of a party from the official register due to non-compliance with electoral norms.
- Keywords & Concepts: Electoral reforms, political accountability, transparency in funding, democratic consolidation.
- Static + Conceptual Linkages:
- Role of ECI in ensuring level playing field.
- Importance of financial disclosures in preventing black money in politics.
- Way Forward:
- Regular audits and digital compliance tracking of political parties.
- Rationalisation of party registration norms to prevent frivolous registrations.
- Enhanced public disclosure to promote informed voter choice.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper 2: Constitutional bodies, Election Commission, electoral reforms, political parties.
- Prelims Focus: Definitions, powers of ECI, classification of political parties.