The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed 17 registered unrecognised political parties in Uttarakhand from its list of recognised registered political outfits after they failed to establish their existence or demonstrate any electoral activity, officials said on Wednesday.
The action follows a verification exercise conducted by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Uttarakhand, as part of the Election Commission’s nationwide drive to identify inactive and non-functional political parties.
During the verification process, notices were issued to several parties that had remained inactive for years. However, the 17 organisations failed to submit satisfactory replies or documentary evidence to prove that they were operational.
According to election officials, none of the affected parties had contested any election during the past six years. The verification also revealed that many were no longer functioning from the addresses registered with the Election Commission.
Based on the findings, the Uttarakhand CEO submitted a detailed report to the Election Commission, which subsequently ordered the removal of these parties from its register.
With the deregistration, these organisations will no longer be able to field candidates under their respective party names in the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
Officials also noted that several of the parties had failed to comply with mandatory statutory requirements, including filing annual returns, submitting contribution reports and conducting internal organisational elections within the prescribed timelines.
Despite being served notices seeking explanations and proof of organisational activities, the parties reportedly failed to provide any substantive response.
The move is part of the ECI’s broader nationwide exercise targeting more than 800 registered unrecognised political parties suspected of being inactive, non-functional or otherwise non-compliant.
Officials said Uttarakhand had 42 registered unrecognised political parties at the time of the 2022 Assembly elections.
The 17 parties removed from the register 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.
Other parties removed include Rashtriya Gram Vikas Party, Bharat Qaumi Dal, People’s Party, Bharat Parivar Party and Bharatiya Samrat Subhash Sena from Haridwar district, Prajamandal Party from Pauri Garhwal district, and Prajatantra Party of India and Suraj Seva Dal from Nainital district.
Meanwhile, officials said six new political organisations have applied for registration with the Election Commission ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
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