REGISTERED UNRECOGNISED POLITICAL PARTIES
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- The Election Commission of India delisted 86 non-existent Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) and declared an additional 253 as ‘Inactive RUPPs’.
- These Political parties have been reported inactive, as they have not responded to the letter/notice delivered to them and have not contested a single election either to the General Assembly of a State or the Parliament Election 2014 & 2019.
- Many RUPPs have been found to be non-existent either after a physical verification carried out by the respective Chief Electoral Officers of concerned States/UTs or based on the report of undelivered letters/notices from the Postal Authority sent to the registered address of the concerned RUPP.
Details
- Under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act of 1951, every political party has to communicate any change in its name, head office, office bearers, address, PAN to the Election Commission without delay.
- Any party dissatisfied with the action of ECI may approach the concerned Chief Electoral Officer/Election Commission within 30 days of the issue of this direction along with all evidence of existence, and other legal and regulatory compliances including year-wise annual audited accounts, contribution reports, expenditure report, updating of office bearers including authorized signatories for financial transactions (including bank account).
Registered Unrecognized Political Parties
- There are 2,360 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India and about 50% of them are unrecognized parties.
- Unrecognized Political Parties are those newly registered parties which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become a state party, or which have never contested elections since registered.
- They don’t enjoy the benefits extended to the recognized parties.
- A Political Party is called a Recognized Political Party if it meets certain conditions.
- Won a certain percentage of valid votes or a certain number of seats in the State legislative assembly or the Lok Sabha in the last election.
Election Commission of India
- It is a permanent constitutional body.
- Article 324 of the constitution establishes the Election Commission of India.
- It was established on 25th January 1950.
- It supervises the conduct of elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and elections to the offices of President and Vice-President of India.
- It consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
- Originally, there was only Chief Election Commissioner, there were no Election Commissioners.
Powers of the Election Commission
- The EC enjoys complete autonomy and is insulated from any interference from the Executive.
- It also functions as a quasi-judicial body regarding matters related to elections and electoral disputes.
- Its recommendations are binding on the President of India.
- However, its decisions are subject to judicial review by High Courts and the Supreme Court acting on electoral petitions.
- During the election process, the entire Central and state government machinery (including paramilitary and police forces) is deemed to be on deputation to the Commission.
- The Commission takes effective control of government personnel and movable and immovable property for the successful conduct of elections.
Functions of the Election Commission
- Demarcation of constituencies.
- Preparation of electoral rolls.
- Issue notification of election dates and schedules.
- Establish and enforce a code of conduct.
- Scrutiny of nomination papers of candidates.
- Scrutiny of election expenses.
- Allot symbols and accord recognition to political parties.
- Render advice to the President and Governors regarding the disqualification of MPs and MLAs.
- Allot schedules for broadcast and telecast of party campaigns.
- Grant exemptions to persons from disqualifications imposed by judicial decisions.
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