Election Commission cancels registration of 42 parties ahead of Bihar Assembly elections

New Delhi/Chennai (The Uttam Hindu): The Election Commission has cancelled the registration of 474 inactive political parties across the country. These parties had not contested any elections in the last six years. The Commission says this step has been taken to ensure clean and transparent electoral process. The impact of this action has been felt most strongly in Tamil Nadu, where 42 political parties have been removed from the list. These parties include some that were allies of the state's ruling party, the DMK, and the central ruling party, the BJP.

Election Commission takes major action ahead of Bihar Assembly elections, cancels registration of 42 parties in this state: The Election Commission said that the Tamil Nadu parties whose registration has been cancelled, either did not contest elections for a long time or contested elections but did not submit their expenditure details and annual audit report on time. The cancelled parties include parties like Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK), Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi.

Of these, the MMK and KMDK contested the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the DMK, while the TMMK has been an ally of the BJP. The MJK and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi previously contested elections on AIADMK tickets. The Election Commission has clarified that if a party fails to contest elections for six consecutive years and fails to submit the required documents, its registration can be cancelled. This action has been taken across the country under this rule. The Commission says that in the future, as part of electoral reforms, strict action will continue to be taken against parties that exist only on paper but do not engage in any political activity on the ground.