The Election Commission has issued a public notice to nine registered political parties in Rajasthan that have not contested any election in the past six years. This includes the Bharat Vahini Party, founded by senior BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari in April 2018 after his fallout with then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Tiwari later returned to the BJP and is now a Rajya Sabha MP.
The Commission has asked the parties to respond within 15 days, clarifying whether they have ceased or limited their activities, since none have participated in any election over the last six years.
The notice names the following parties: Bharat Vahini Party, Rajasthan Janata Party, Rashtriya Jansagar Party, Khushal Kisan Party, Bharatiya Jan Hitkari Party, National Jansatta Party, Nationalist People's Front, Swachh Bharat Party, and Maharana Kranti Party.
These parties have been warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time will lead to their removal from the list of registered political parties, in accordance with Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and related rules.
Notably, parties registered under Section 29A enjoy several privileges, including income tax exemption, allocation of election symbols, and the ability to nominate star campaigners.
