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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: UP has over 630 political parties out of 2,301 in the country
Most of the political parties in Uttar Pradesh, including Bharat Mata Sapoot Party, Bahujan Hasrat Party, Apna Dal Balihari and National Fifty-Fifty Front, are unrecognised.
When it comes to polls, UP not only has a significant share in terms of number of voters and seats in the Parliament, but also the number of political parties. Out of the 2,301 parties registered with the Election Commission of India, over 630 are from Uttar Pradesh.
Most of these, including Bharat Mata Sapoot Party, Bahujan Hasrat Party, Apna Dal Balihari and National Fifty-Fifty Front, are unrecognised. There are only a few recognised regional parties such as the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal. Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party is recognised as a national party.
“Either at the state or the national level, a party has to secure a certain minimum percentage of polled valid votes or a certain number of seats in the legislative assembly or the Lok Sabha to become a recognised political party,” explained an election commission official.
He said that out of the 149 unrecognised parties that were registered over the past three months, 45 were from Uttar Pradesh. Most of these unrecognised parties, he said, had been defunct for years but the ECI could not cancel their registration due to lack of such a provision. “Most of these parties do not even contest elections,” he said.
As per the ECI rules, unrecognised parties have to choose from a list of 84 free election symbols. “Free symbols, including cake, bread, razor, pot, ladyfinger, socks and phone charger are available for unrecognised parties. These parties are also under scanner for fund routing,” said the official.
Uttar Pradesh, known as the gateway to the Parliament, has maximum voters in the country and the highest seat share. Over 14.4 crore voters will elect 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
