ECI cancels registration of 17 inactive political parties in Uttarakhand

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has cancelled the registration of 17 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) in Uttarakhand after they failed to establish their existence or report any electoral activity, rendering them ineligible to contest the 2027 Assembly elections under their party banners, according to agency reports.
The action follows a verification exercise carried out by the office of the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), which issued notices to political parties that had remained inactive for several years.According to election officials, none of the 17 registered unrecognised political parties had contested any election during the past six years. The verification also found that the parties were not functioning from the addresses registered with the Election Commission.
Based on the findings, the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer submitted a detailed report to the Election Commission, which subsequently removed the parties from its list of registered political parties.Officials said several of the affected parties had also failed to comply with mandatory statutory requirements, including filing annual returns, submitting contribution reports and conducting internal organisational elections within the prescribed timelines.
The Election Commission had earlier issued notices seeking explanations and documentary proof of their political activities and organisational functioning. However, officials said the parties failed to provide any substantive response or supporting evidence.The move is part of the Election Commission's nationwide exercise to weed out more than 800 registered unrecognised political parties that are inactive, non-functional or considered suspicious.At the time of the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the state had 42 registered unrecognised political parties.The 17 deregistered parties include Bharatiya Jan Kranti Party, Hamari Janmanch Party, Maidani Kranti Dal, Rashtriya Jan Sahay Dal, Uttarakhand Janshakti Party, Bharatiya Mool Niwasi Samaj Party, Bharatiya Antyodaya Party, Bharatiya Gram Nagar Vikas Party and Gorkha Democratic Front, all registered in Dehradun.
The list also includes Rashtriya Gram Vikas Party, Bharat Qaumi Dal, People's Party, Bharat Parivar Party and Bharatiya Samrat Subhash Sena from Haridwar district, Prajamandal Party from Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal district, and Prajatantra Party of India and Suraj Seva Dal from Nainital district,stated agency report.Meanwhile, election officials said six new political organisations have already applied for registration with the Election Commission ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.