Election Commission Targets 345 'Ghost' Political Parties

In a sweeping move aimed at cleaning up the country’s electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced the initiation of delisting proceedings against 345 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) for failing to meet the basic criterion of participating in elections over the past six years.

The Commission revealed that these parties—spread across multiple states and Union Territories—have not contested even a single election since 2019. What's more, EC officials were unable to trace the physical offices of these entities, raising serious questions about their operational legitimacy and continued registration.

Out of the 2,800+ RUPPs currently on the Election Commission’s rolls, this batch of 345 has been flagged in the latest crackdown—part of a larger ongoing effort by the Commission to ensure transparency, curb misuse of electoral benefits, and maintain a clean electoral database.

Under existing guidelines, registered unrecognised political parties must actively engage in the electoral process to continue enjoying recognition-related privileges. However, this group of parties has failed to field a single candidate in any local, state, or national election since 2019, rendering their continued registration legally untenable.

ALSO READ: ECI To Launch Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar