Political Party Registration in India

Political Party Registration is an investment of trust & faith of Indian people!

What is Political Party Registration?

Before popping your champagne in your new political party, get political
party registration first. In India, you have to get registered with the Election
Commission of India for commencing your party. Political Party
Registration in India is mandatory for a political party following which it can
avail the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Currently, India has over 1600 registered political party in which 400 of
them were formed within the last five year.

According to the Act, the purpose of registering any association or body of

individual citizen of India as a political party, the association or body is
required to make an application to the Election Commission of India therein
full particulars required under sub-section (4) of the section 29A of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 and additional particulars required
under the Political Party Registration.

Grab a pen and pin it on the wall!

The application for Political Party registration should be neatly typed or

written on party’s letterhead if any and should be sent through registered
post/ presented personally to the secretary of the Election Commission
within 30 days following on the date of the formation of the party.

Any application made after the period will be acknowledged as time-barred

under the prescribed law. It is to be clearly noted that all the pages of the
 political party registration application should be serially numbered including
annexure.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for Political Party

Registration?
As per the Election Commission of India, a new political party must have at
least 100 members who will apply for political certification. Each member
should have a voting card that clearly implies that individuals should be
above the age of 18.

What is the Procedure for Political Party Registration?

As stated earlier, within 30 days of the formation of the party should submit
an application for political party registration to the Secretary to the Election
Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashok Road, New Delhi- 110001.

The commission already has a prescribed Proforma; relevant guidelines

are also available on the Commission’s website. The Election Commission
will usually take about 4 months to process the request of the new political
entities.

Constitution of the Political Party- Rules to be followed

 The name of the party should not contain any of the religion or caste
 The objective of the party should be in consonance with the
constitution of India
 Membership in the party should be open to all adults, no person
should be discriminated against for religion, caste or gender
 The power or function of the party or the decision making power
should reflect democratic spirit- no veto power should be there
 Not more than one-third of the members can be nominated for more
than 5 years of the period. Periodic elections within 5 years maximum
 Party funds to be utilized only for the political activities in which
monthly accounts should be maintained
 The accounts should be annually audited by the auditors who are on
the panel of CAG then the accounts should be submitted to the ECI within
6 months of the end of the financial year.
 A checklist with the clear answer against each item may be submitted
with an application for political party registration.
 Political Party Registration Procedure
The commission allows the public to raise objection against the political
party within 30 days of the submission of the application for political party
registration if any.  The representative or the applicant of the political party
must issue a notice in the newspaper and declare their intention of forming
a new party.

After the end of the 30-day calendar if no objection is raised the

commission verifies the documents submitted by the party. Within 4 or 5
months the party representatives can watch the door to receive the political
party registration confirmation.

Once the party got parked for political party registration with the

commission, then it becomes obligatory for the party leaders to select an
election symbol from the ones available with the election commission. If the
members are not happy with the symbols and that doesn’t fit with their
choice then the member can pick a symbol on their own or submit a sketch
to the commission for approval.

What are the Documents Required for Political Party

Registration in India?
 A Demand Draft of Rs 10,000 should be drawn in favor of the Under
Secretary, Election Commission of India. The processing fee for political
party registration is non- refundable.
 The Memorandum and Article of Association of the party where the
documents must include the provision regarding the “organizational
elections at different levels at the periodicity of elections and terms of office
and office – bearer of the party.
 A copy of the party’s constitution approved by the General
Secretary/President/chairman of the party.  The document should bear the
seal of the signatory.
 An affidavit stating that no member of the party has a membership
with any other political party registered with the Election Commission.
 Extracts from the latest electoral polls at least 100 members of the
party as an evidence should be registered voters
 Individual affidavit of the member stating that the members of the
party are registered voter and not a member of any other political party.
 In to the bargain, every office bearer should declare his wealth,
assets or investment made by them including their spouse and children.
 Particulars of Bank Account and PAN in the name of the party
furnishing
 A “No Objection Certificate” in the form of an Affidavit on stamp paper
from the owner of the premises, where the party office is situated 
 An affidavit showing personal information about their criminal
antecedents in the preceding year,

Ending Road

Political party registration is no doubt a high task as it asks for a lot of

attention, charity, and humanity after the registration. There will be the
investment of trust and faith of the people of India. Political party
registration from the trusted site is your first brick of the party house. Make
sure to have the right guidance.