The Election Commission has issued formal notices to two more registered but unrecognised political parties in Uttarakhand, citing repeated failure to submit mandatory financial and expenditure reports for three consecutive financial years. The latest move reflects the poll body’s growing resolve to enforce compliance among political outfits across the country.
Our correspondent reports that the parties facing action are the Bhartiya Sarvodaya Party, based in Patel Nagar West, Dehradun, and the Uttarakhand Progressive Party, located near St. Joseph School Gate on Subhash Road, Dehradun. Both parties participated in elections after 2019, but despite contesting, they failed to file their audited annual accounts and election expenditure statements for the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
According to rules, political parties are legally bound to submit audited accounts within 75 days of assembly elections and within 90 days of Lok Sabha elections. These submissions are considered essential for ensuring transparency in campaign spending and accountability of funds received. By failing to comply, the two parties have now been directed to explain their lapses by 13th October 2025.
Our correspondent adds that this is not an isolated case. In Uttarakhand alone, the Election Commission has already delisted 17 registered unrecognised parties for similar violations. Officials say the strict enforcement drive aims to clean up the electoral registry, where many small outfits have historically avoided financial scrutiny despite enjoying the privileges of registration.
The Representation of the People Act, Section 29, allows registered political parties several benefits. These include income tax exemptions under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, entitlement to contest elections under allocated symbols, and the ability to nominate star campaigners whose expenses are not clubbed with those of individual candidates. However, these privileges come with the responsibility of filing audited financial records and ensuring their activities remain within the law.
Our correspondent reports that the Election Commission has repeatedly underlined the importance of financial accountability. Without mandatory disclosures, there is a risk of misuse of funds, lack of transparency in donations, and potential manipulation of electoral finances. In Uttarakhand, where multiple small and regional outfits operate, the scrutiny is being intensified to prevent misuse of the registration system.
Our correspondent adds that experts believe the Commission’s recent crackdown will have far-reaching implications. Smaller outfits that have functioned without maintaining accounts will now have to either regularise their financial practices or risk being struck off the register. Observers say that while this may reduce the number of active parties on paper, it will improve the credibility of the political system by ensuring that only those willing to comply with norms can continue to benefit from registration.
Political analysts also note that this step could encourage greater voter confidence. Many citizens have questioned how smaller parties manage funds and why several of them remain inactive except during elections. By enforcing transparency, the Commission signals that no party—whether large or small—can take its privileges for granted.
The two parties that have received notices now face a crucial deadline. If they fail to respond by the mid-October date, they could face delisting and lose access to tax exemptions, reserved symbols, and other entitlements. For the Bhartiya Sarvodaya Party and the Uttarakhand Progressive Party, the decision may determine whether they can remain in the political landscape of the state.
For Uttarakhand, this wave of enforcement highlights the Election Commission’s determination to maintain integrity in electoral processes. As more parties are brought under scrutiny, the expectation is that compliance will improve across the board. Ultimately, the Commission’s actions are aimed at strengthening trust in democratic institutions and ensuring that the political framework operates with greater financial discipline.
