Election Commission Initiates Action Against Unrecognised Parties Flouting Rules
NDTV
The massive clean-up drive by the poll panel came days after Rajiv Kumar took over as the chief election commissioner on May 15.
Tightening the noose around unrecognised registered political parties for flouting rules, including those related to filing of contribution reports and indulging in "serious" financial impropriety, the Election Commission on Wednesday said it has initiated graded action against more than 2,100 such parties.
Sixty-six such parties claimed IT exemption in FY20 without complying with statutory requirements under the Representation of the People Act and 2,174 have not submitted contribution reports, the EC said.
"Action to be initiated against those receiving donations without due statutory compliances. Action initiated against three registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) reported to be involved in serious financial impropriety. Eighty-seven non-existent RUPPs shall be deleted from the list and benefits under the Symbols Order (1968) withdrawn," the poll panel said in a statement.
There are 2,796 registered unrecognised political parties as in September, 2021, which is an increase of over 300 per cent since 2001.
