In a major move to streamline the electoral landscape, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has de-listed 42 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) in Tamil Nadu. This action stems from their failure to adhere to the Representation of People Act, 1951, specifically their consistent non-participation in elections for the past six years, dating back to 2019.
The ECI’s guidelines for political party registration, as outlined in the Representation of People Act, stipulate a crucial requirement: any registered party must commit to contesting an election overseen by the Commission within five years of its initial registration.
Crucially, should a party fail to contest elections for a continuous period of six years, it faces automatic removal from the official register of political parties.
This latest de-listing marks the second phase of the ECI’s ongoing, robust campaign aimed at purifying the electoral system. The decision, announced on Friday, impacts these 42 parties across Tamil Nadu.
Among the notable parties removed from the list are the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), led by Papanasam MLA M.H. Jawahirullah; the Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK), under the leadership of Thiruchengode MLA E.R. Eswaran; and the Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, headed by John Pandian.
Interestingly, both MMK, with its two MLAs, and KMDK, holding one MLA and one MP seat, had participated in the most recent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by aligning with and contesting under the DMK banner.
Additional parties impacted by this decision include the Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, led by Thamimun Ansari (who won the Nagapattinam seat), and the Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, led by N.R. Dhanapalan (who contested unsuccessfully for the Perambur seat). Both these parties had contested the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections under the AIADMK’s election symbol.
In response to the de-listing, Mr. Jawahirullah issued a statement asserting that the ECI’s decision contradicts both the Indian Constitution and the Representation of People Act. He confirmed his party’s intention to seek a review from the Election Commission.