India Has Over 1,900 Parties, 400 Never Contested Polls: EC

Election commission officials demonstrating the handling of EVM to the enclave dwellers. (Photo: PTI)

Being the largest democracy and the second largest population in the world, India clearly has a penchant for politics.

According to the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, there are over 1,900 political parties in the country, but over 400 of them have never contested an election, according to a Times of India report.

Zaidi suspects that these could be cover-ups for converting black money to white.

The Election Commission has started striking off these parties from its rolls, yet not de-registering them.

Striking off their names will disentitle them from income tax exemptions on contributions and donations.

Nasim Zaidi

When asked why the parties are not straightaway getting de-registered, the Zaidi called it a cumbersome activity.

Eventually, we may have to do that, but this is the immediate action taken by the EC on finding the anomaly.

State CECs have been asked to send a comprehensive report of lists of registered parties who have never contested elections and their funding to the EC. Zaidi said weeding out the non-participating parties will be a yearly activity from here on out.

(Source: Times of India)