EC cancels registration of 474 parties, 26 from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has cancelled the registration of 474 political parties that were registered but unrecognized, citing their failure to contest elections or gain recognition in recent years.

Of these, 17 parties are from Andhra Pradesh and nine from Telangana, as part of the poll body’s ongoing effort to maintain transparency and credibility in electoral records.

Last month, the Election Commission had already removed 334 inactive parties. With the latest exercise, a total of 808 parties have been derecognized in two months. Officials said most of the removed parties had not contested any elections for over six years.

From Andhra Pradesh, the deregistered parties include the All India Liberal Party, All India Manchi Party, Bharat Praja Spondana Party, Bharatiya Chaitanya Party, Bharatiya Sadharma Sthapana Party, Great India Party, Jai Andhra Party, Jai Samaikyandhra Party, Pedala Party, Poverty Eradication Party, Political Essential and Accurate Council of Experts Party, Prajapalan Party, Rayalaseema Congress Party, Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi, Samaikya Telugu Rajyam, Backwards Classes Women Farmers Party, and YSR Bahujan Party.

In Telangana, notable among the deregistered parties is the Lok Satta Party, which had previously played a prominent role in the state’s politics. Others include the All India Azad Party, All India BC OBC Party, BC Bharat Desam Party, Bharat Labour Praja Party, Mahajana Mandali Party, Navabharat National Party, and Telangana Pragathi Samithi.

Following this clean-up, EC data shows India now has six recognized national parties and 67 state-recognized parties. In addition, 2,046 parties remain registered but unrecognized.