On 19 September 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) revoked the recognition of 42 political parties in Tamil Nadu for their inactivity over the past six years. This move is part of a nationwide effort to delist inactive parties, with a total of 474 parties removed from the rolls across the country. Among them, 121 parties were delisted in Uttar Pradesh, and 44 in Maharashtra.
The decision to cancel these parties’ recognition also stems from their failure to submit the mandatory election expenditure reports, as required under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. According to this law, political parties must regularly contest elections and provide financial disclosures to maintain their registration status.
Some of the parties affected in Tamil Nadu include the Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, and Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi. In June 2025, the ECI had already issued notices to 24 such parties, offering them an opportunity to respond before taking action. The ECI’s move is aimed at streamlining the electoral system, ensuring that only active and compliant parties remain recognized in the political landscape.
Some of the delisted parties had contested elections in alliance with major parties. For example, the Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi, a member of the DMK alliance, saw its registration canceled. The party’s general secretary, Kongu Easwaran, is an MLA from Tiruchengode. Similarly, the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, which contested in alliance with the DMK in the last three elections, was delisted. Its candidates ran under the DMK’s rising sun symbol, meaning they are not considered as representatives of the party.
Other notable parties affected by the ECI’s decision include John Pandian’s Tamil Nadu Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which participated in elections alongside the AIADMK and BJP. It used the AIADMK’s two-leaves symbol in the 2021 elections and the BJP’s symbol in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The registration of the Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, led by Thamimum Ansari, was also revoked. This party had contested the 2016 assembly elections under the AIADMK symbol but failed to participate in the subsequent 2019, 2021, and 2024 elections.
The delisting of these inactive parties marks a significant step in the ECI’s broader efforts to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the electoral system.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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