How to Check if a Political Party Is Registered with the Election Commission of India
How to Check if a Political Party Is Registered with the Election Commission of India
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How to Check if a Political Party Is Registered with the Election Commission of India

How to Check if a Political Party Is Registered with the Election Commission of India

Checking whether a political party is officially registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) is easy and can be done through public records or the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Registration is important because only registered political parties can contest elections under a common symbol and receive certain legal benefits.

This guide explains how you can verify the registration status of any party and uses a real RTI case as an example.

1. Check on the Election Commission Website

The Election Commission maintains an updated list of:

  • Registered unrecognised political parties
  • Registered recognised national parties
  • Registered recognised state parties

These lists are published on the ECI website and are publicly accessible.

Steps:

  1. Visit the Election Commission of India official website.
  2. Open the section “Political Parties & Election Symbols”.
  3. Choose the category:
    • National Parties
    • State Parties
    • Registered Unrecognized Parties
  4. Find the party name in the list.

If the name appears, the party is officially registered.

2. File an RTI Application (If you need documentary proof)

If you want official confirmation or registration documents such as the registration letter, you can file an RTI application with:

Public Information Officer
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi

What You Can Ask:

  • Whether a particular political party is registered
  • Date of registration
  • Copy of the registration letter/order
  • Rules under which the party was registered

3. Example Case: RTI on Telugu Desam Party & Lok Satta Party

In one case, an appellant filed an RTI seeking to know whether the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Lok Satta Party were registered Election Commission.

Background:

  • The appellant asked for confirmation of the registration status.
  • The Public Information Officer (PIO) replied that both parties were indeed registered.

CIC’s Decision:

The Central Information Commission (CIC) held that:

  • The PIO had correctly provided the basic information.
  • However, the CIC directed the PIO to give copies of the registration letters of both political parties to the appellant.
  • The Commission observed that providing such documents promotes transparency.

This case shows that if you need formal proof, the CIC can direct the Election Commission to provide registration documents.

4. Why Someone May Need Registration Proof

You may need the official registration document for:

  • Academic or research work
  • Legal cases or complaints
  • Election-related disputes
  • Verification for publications or media
  • Party internal documentation

RTI is the most reliable way to obtain certified copies.

Conclusion

To check if a political party is registered:

  1. First check the online list on the Election Commission website.
  2. If official documents are needed, file an RTI.
  3. If the information is incomplete, approach the CIC—as seen in the Telugu Desam Party and Lok Satta Party case.

This ensures you receive authenticated and complete information.