#InactivePoliticalParties

[therutheruseithi]

ECI Moves to Delist 24 Inactive Political Parties in Tamil Nadu

In a sweeping effort to clean up electoral rolls and remove dormant entities, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated proceedings to delist 24 registered but unrecognised political parties in Tamil Nadu. The move comes as part of a broader national exercise targeting 345 such inactive parties across India.

According to the ECI, these parties have not contested any election in the past six years, raising questions about their legitimacy and continued existence. The Election Commission has instructed District Electoral Officers (DEOs) to serve show-cause notices to these parties, asking them to justify why they should not be removed from the official register.

Why Is the ECI Taking This Step?

The Election Commission, in its June 26 communication, noted that many of these parties, while registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, have availed significant benefits without fulfilling their primary responsibility: contesting elections.

These benefits include:

Tax exemptions under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act

Eligibility for recognition and reserved symbols

Allotment of common symbols during elections

Nomination of star campaigners

“Over time, a large number of political parties have been registered. However, many of these have not contested even a single election since 2019 and appear to have ceased to exist,” the ECI stated.

Who Are the Parties Being Targeted in Tamil Nadu?

Among the 24 inactive parties in Tamil Nadu facing delisting are:

Makkal Neethi Katchi

Tamil Nadu Peasants and Workers Party

Tamilaga Sthabana Congress

Interestingly, 14 of these parties have their headquarters located in Chennai, and two of them – All India Women Democratic Freedom Party and Mahabharat Mahajan Sabha – are registered in Kolathur, the Assembly constituency of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

Some party names have drawn public attention for their unusual or symbolic references. Examples include:

Appamma Makkal Kazhagam (translated: Father-Mother People Kazhagam)

Anna MGR Jayalalithaa Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – a party name referencing three former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, attempting to symbolically align itself with both AIADMK and DMK legacies.

ECI’s Nationwide Clean-Up Drive

This move is part of a broader ECI effort to streamline the electoral ecosystem by identifying and removing non-performing political entities. Across India, 345 registered, unrecognised political parties have come under the scanner for not having contested any elections since 2019.

According to ECI guidelines, political parties must remain active participants in the democratic process to maintain their registered status. Failure to do so not only clogs the system but also leads to misuse of benefits such as tax exemptions and electoral privileges.

What Happens Next?

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik confirmed that the DEOs have been instructed to send notices to the 24 parties in question. These parties will be asked to provide:

Proof of political activity

Explanation for not contesting elections

Clarification on current operational status

Failure to respond satisfactorily may result in delisting from the register of political parties maintained by the ECI.

Why This Matters

Delisting dormant parties is a crucial step in:

Maintaining electoral integrity

Preventing fraudulent misuse of political status

Ensuring transparency in public funding and campaign privileges

Streamlining symbol allocation and ballot design

In the past, some unrecognised parties have also been accused of being fronts for money laundering, illegal donations, or symbol trading. ECI’s proactive approach aims to curb such practices and ensure that only active and legitimate parties enjoy electoral privileges.

Conclusion

The ECI’s decision to act against inactive political parties in Tamil Nadu is part of a larger move toward a more transparent and accountable electoral system. As democracy evolves, so must the institutions that support it — and ensuring that political parties are active participants in the electoral process is a critical part of that evolution.

As Tamil Nadu heads toward future elections, this clean-up could help restore public trust and free up resources for parties that are genuinely engaged in the democratic process.