29 unrecognised parties from Gujarat recorded ₹510 crore income, highest in FY 2024-25: ADR

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Twenty-nine Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) from Gujarat recorded the highest reported income of ₹510.41 crore during the Financial Year 2024-2025. This was followed by ₹218.48 crore by 73 parties in Delhi and ₹173.36 crore by 23 RUPPs in Rajasthan, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

Together, the three States accounted for approximately 80.67% of the total reported income of ₹1,118.494 crore of all 734 RUPPs whose audit and contribution reports were available on the respective State Chief Electoral Officer’s websites.

The ADR report analyses the status of submission of annual audit reports and contribution reports of registered unrecognised parties for the Financial Year 2024-25 as well as their electoral performance.

The 734 RUPPs across 34 States and Union Territories accounted for a total income of ₹1,118.49 crore, total expenditure of ₹1,024.6 crore, total donations of ₹1,104.36 crore, and donations above ₹20,000 amounting to ₹1,199.876 crore.

These 734 are 35% of the total RUPPs across 34 States and UTs in India. Both the annual audit and contribution reports of a significant 65% or 1,330 of the total RUPPs are not available in the public domain for FY 2024-2026.

Despite reporting thousands of crores in income and donations, RUPPs translated little of their financial strength into electoral success. The top 15 RUPPs won no seat in FY 2024-25, while from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, the top 15 RUPPs together managed to win just one seat out of 35 contested.

The top three earners were Gujarat-based New India United Party, Bharatiya National Janata Dal, and Rajasthan-based Bhartiya Garib Vikas Kalyan Party and accounted for ₹660.52 crore, which is over 67.82% of the total income declared by reporting parties.

The maximum number of RUPPs whose statements were available are in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Delhi and Bihar, given that these States are among the top five States with the highest number of RUPPs.

The top 15 RUPPs declared ₹1,064.705 crore in high-value donations (above ₹20,000) and ₹973.93 crore in total income, yet won zero seats out of all contested elections.

According to rules, political parties are exempted from paying income tax as long as they file their Income Tax returns and submit details of donations received above ₹20,000 to the Election Commission annually. Even if the parties declare that they have not received any amount above ₹20,000 from a single donor, they would still enjoy tax exemption.

A total of 808 RUPPs were delisted by the Election Commission in two phases in August and September 2025 for continuous non-contestation over six years. The ECI said these parties would receive show-cause notices and an opportunity for a hearing before a final decision.

political parties / state politics / Election Commission of India