Election Commission delists 334 political parties nationwide, six in Kerala

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission said that it has delisted 334 political parties for failing to contest elections for over six years and not complying with mandatory rules under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These 334 unrecognised registered political parties come from various states and union territories across the country. As a result, they are no longer permitted to establish physical offices.

Out of the total 2,854 registered political parties in the country, 2,520 continue to hold recognition after the recent cancellations. Currently, there are six national parties and 67 state parties in the country. According to rules, political parties must participate in elections at least once every six years and must promptly notify the Election Commission of any changes in their name, address, or office bearers.

Some political parties from Kerala were also among those whose recognition was cancelled. These include RSP (B) and NDP Secular. The recognised national parties include the Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI(M), Indian National Congress, and National People's Party.