ECI crackdown finds Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi topping the list of having most non-existent and non-compliant RUPPs in the country

ECI cracks the whip on 86 non-existent RUPPs, denies them benefits under Symbol Order, also declares 253 RUPPs inactive and also bars them from availing benefits under Symbol Order, 1968.

@prashanthamine

Mumbai: An Election Commission of India (ECI) crackdown on Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) in the country finds states of Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi topping the list of having the maximum number of “non-existent” and “inactive” RUPPs in the country.

Continuing in its efforts to clean-up of the electoral system in the country in its own way, the ECI on September 13 cracked its whip deleting 86 “non-existent” RUPPs from the list and benefits under the Symbols Order 0f 1968. Furthermore, the ECI also declared 253 RUPPs as “inactive” and has similarly barred them from availing any benefits of the Symbols Order of 1968.

In terms of “non-existent” RUPPs, Uttar Pradesh with 20 non-existent RUPPs tops the list, followed by – New Delhi 14, Tamil Nadu 7, Maharashtra 6, Andhra Pradesh 6, Sikkim 5, Haryana 4, Odisha 4, Rajasthan 3 and Jharkhand 3 among other states. These 86 non-existent RUPPs have been permanently deleted from the list of political parties entitled to availing benefits under the Symbols Order of 1968.

If that is not enough, states of Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi yet again top the list of 253 RUPPs declared as “inactive” by the ECI. Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 111 RUPPs declared as inactive, followed notably by – New Delhi 79, Tamil Nadu 22, Telangana 14, Bihar 14, Karnataka 8 and Maharashtra 5 among other states.

Action against these 339 (86 non-existent and 253 inactive) “non-compliant” RUPPs takes the tally to 537 defaulting RUPPs since May 25, 2022. The ECI had delisted 87 RUPPs and 111 RUPPs on May 25 and June 20 earlier this year, totalling the number of delisted RUPPs to 284. This was disclosed in a statement issued here by ECI Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

The latest decision is based on the reports received from Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of seven states of – Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. These RUPPs have failed to comply with statutory requirements for more than 16 compliance steps since 2015 and are continuing to default. The CEOs of the seven states had based their reports on the basis of undelivered letters and notices from the Postal Authority.

As per section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, (RP Act, 1951) every political party has to communicate any change in its name, head office, office bearers, address or PAN number to the ECI without any delay.

Also Read: Why Bihar continues to be in eternal political turmoil?

Of the 253 political parties, 66 RUPPs had actually applied for a common symbol as per provisions of para 10B of the Symbol’s Order, 1968 and did not contest the respective elections.

The ECI observes that there is a possibility of such political parties occupying the available pre-election political space by taking benefits of admissible entitlements without contesting elections. Such political parties also tend to crowd out the other political parties who actually are contesting the elections and also create confusion in the minds of the voters, adds the ECI.

Moreover, the ECI further notes that as per 13 (ii) (e) of the Guidelines for Registration of Political Parties, which reads thus, “Declares that a party must contest an election conducted by the Election Commission within five years of its registration and thereafter should continue to contest. (If the Party does not contest elections continuously for six years, the Party shall be taken off the list of registered parties).”

The Commission order further states that why further action as mandated as per Para 10b of the Symbols Order making them liable for such punitive action. The Commission order further states that both the lists be shared with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) (read Income Tax) for further necessary action.

The ECI observes that mandated and self-acknowledged provisions are sine qua non (essential conditions) for maintaining financial discipline, propriety, public accountability and transparency. The compliance of these provisions are building blocks of a transparency mechanism which is necessary for informing the voters so as to enable them to make informed choices. In the absence of such required compliances the Election Commission and the electorate get blindsided.

The section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, states that consequent upon registration, a political party gets several entitlements, inter-alia, party can collect donations, which is fully exempted from income tax. In elections, they are entitled for privileges of common symbol, preference over Independents on ballot, vehicles, star campaigners etc.