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The variety of registered unrecognised political events has elevated two-fold from 2010 to 2019, in line with a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a ballot rights group. Either newly registered events or these which haven’t secured sufficient proportion of votes within the meeting or common elections to turn out to be a state celebration, or these which have by no means contested elections since being registered are thought of unrecognised events. From 1,112 such events in 2010, the variety of unrecognised registered events has elevated to 2,301 in 2019.

“The number of registered unrecognised political parties has increased two-fold in the last 10 years. It is important to note that the number of such parties increases disproportionately during the year of Parliamentary elections especially.

“Between 2018 and 2019, it elevated by over 9.eight per cent whereas between 2013 and 2014, it elevated by 18 per cent,” the report said.

The registered unrecognised parties analysed in this report declared a total of 6,860 donations worth Rs 65.45 crore during FY 2018-19 and 6,138 donations of Rs 24.6 crore for FY 2017-18, amounting to 12,998 total declared donations of Rs 90.05 crore in two years. Apna Desh Party of Uttar Pradesh declared the highest donations for both financial years combined of Rs 65.63 crore (4,300 donations) or 72.88 per cent of the total declared donations by unrecognised parties in their contribution reports of FY 2017-18 & 2018-19, the report said.

“Of the 138 events analysed on this report, greater than 50 events’ contribution studies are unavailable within the public area for both of the 2 monetary years,” the report said.

Of the total 2,301 registered unrecognised parties as of March 2019, 653 parties or 28.38 per cent of them belong to Uttar Pradesh, followed by 291 parties or 12.65 per cent from Delhi and 184 or eight per cent from Tamil Nadu. The Election Commission of India issued guidelines on ‘Transparency and Accountability in party funds and election expenditure submission of reports by unrecognised political parties’ which were applicable to all political parties w.e.f October 1, 2014. As per these guidelines, all unrecognised parties are required to submit their requisite reports in the office of the respective state CEOs.

On receipt of the reports from the state level unrecognised political parties, scanned copies of annual audited accounts, contribution reports and statements of election expenditure shall be uploaded on the websites of CEOs of the respective states, within three days of receipt of the same for viewing by the public.

In view of the above, this report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analyses the standing of submission of contribution studies of registered unrecognised events between FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19. The report appears to be like on the variety of events that submitted their contribution studies on time, people who delayed their submission in addition to events whose contribution studies usually are not obtainable within the public area after the due date for the mentioned time interval.