Six registered political parties receive show-cause notices from Chennai district election office

The Chennai District Election Office has issued show-cause notices to six registered unrecognised political parties in the city.

According to a press release, Kokula Makkal Katchi, Indian Lovers’ Party, Indian Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, Makkal Desiya Katchi, Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi, and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi had not fielded candidates during elections in the past six years.

The registration of a body of individual citizens of India as a political party is governed by the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The purpose of registration of an association as a political party with the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the aforesaid Section 29A is to avail themselves of the provisions of that part for the purposes of the Representation of the People Act, which means participation in elections conducted by the ECI, the release stated.

It is self-evident that the said parties have ceased to function as political parties for the purposes of Section 29A, the release further said. The ECI, in exercise of its powers conferred under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, proposes to delist such parties from the list of registered parties.

Before taking action as proposed above, the Chennai District Election Office has decided to provide to the six parties an opportunity of making a representation, showing cause, if any, as to why the proposed action may not be taken. The parties have been called upon to make a written representation in this regard. It is also stated that the date of hearing for the parties has been scheduled on August 26, 2025, at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu, the release said.