Govt may amend rule to derecognise political parties once EC proposes: Law Minister
29 December, New Delhi
Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the Government may amend the Act to derecognise the political parties delisted by the Election Commission (EC) who have not fought elections once EC sends a proposal in this regard.
Talking to media persons here, Prasad said delisting of the said 255 political parties was a good action and we welcome it. But the Government has a little role to play in derecognising these parties. Election Commission has all the right in this regard.
On a question on lack of provisions in the law to derecognise these political parties, Prasad said the Government may consider the amendments in the act if EC feels it and send us the proposal. “We do not have any issue in it as the Modi Government is committed for the transparency in elections and related matters.”
Asked about transparent funding of political parties, the Law Minister said, “For this we need political consensus. In this too, EC has to come forward. As far as the Government is concerned, we are here for the transparency in election funding as well as political funding.”
The Election Commission had delisted 255 political parties that existed only on paper and has asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to initiate appropriate action, if necessary.
None of these parties have ever contested a local body, assembly or Lok Sabha election since 2005, the EC found out while reviewing the records of unrecognised parties registered with it.
As per the present law, EC does not have a direct power to cancel the registration of a political party. But EC can delist a political party and Under Section 29A of the Representation of People Act 1951, it can take back the symbol of a party.
“The Election Commission of India has so far deleted the names of 255 political parties from the list of registered unrecognised political parties maintained by the commission under the Section 29A and and para 17 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.”