News: The ECI has initiated steps to de-list 345 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) that have not contested elections in the last six years.
About Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
- RUPPs are political parties registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 but have not yet qualified as State or National Parties.
- Features
- These are either newly-registered parties or
- These are parties which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the Assembly or general election to become a State party or
- Those parties that have never contested elections after being registered.
- Symbol: Common symbols are provided to RUPPs based upon an undertaking that they would put up “at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State”.
- The symbols are provided under Provisions of Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
- Conditions for RUPPS
- They are required to maintain the details of individual donors who have donated above ₹20,000 in a financial year and submit these details to the ECI every year.
- As per Section 29C of the RP Act, failure to furnish these details will result in losing income tax exemption.
- The RUPPs are required to accept donations in excess of ₹2000 only through cheque or bank transfers.
- RUPPs are required to furnish audited accounts for the last three fiscal years.
- They are mandated to submit expenditure reports for the two preceding elections.
- They are required to maintain the details of individual donors who have donated above ₹20,000 in a financial year and submit these details to the ECI every year.
- Benefits: The RUPPs enjoy the following benefits –
- tax exemption for donations received under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, 1961
- a common symbol for contesting general elections to the Lok Sabha/State Assemblies
- 20 ‘star campaigners’ during election campaigns
- De-listing of RUPPS by ECI
- ‘Letter pad parties’: As per ECI notification, there are more than 2,800 RUPPs in India as of May 2025.
- However, only around 750 of them contested the 2024 general elections.
- Issue: The RP Act does not confer explicit powers on the ECI to de-register any political party if it fails to contest elections, conduct inner-party elections or lodge requisite returns.
- The Supreme Court in Indian National Congress versus Institute of Social Welfare & Ors (2002) had held that the ECI does not have the power to de-register any political party under the RP Act.
- It may de-register only under exceptional circumstances such as the registration being obtained by fraud or the political party ceasing to have allegiance to the Indian Constitution or if it is declared unlawful by the Government.
- ‘Letter pad parties’: As per ECI notification, there are more than 2,800 RUPPs in India as of May 2025.
