ECI initiates process to cancel registration of 10 political parties

The Election Commission has initiated the process of cancellation of the registration of 10 unrecognised political parties in the Bengaluru district, as these parties have not contested in any election since 2019, and their offices could not be traced.

Ambedkar Janata Party, Bharatiya Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Janata Party, Bharatiya Praja Party, Kalyana Kranti Party, Karnataka Praja Vikas Party, Mahila Pradhana Party, Namma Congress, Praja Raitha Rajya Party, Rakshaka Sena and Samajwadi Janata Party (Karnataka) are the 10 registered parties.

The parties have not contested any Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assembly, or Assembly By-Elections in the past six years, and they currently do not have any known addresses, a release by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said.

“The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has issued show cause notices under the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution of India and under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These notices question why the registration of such parties should not be cancelled,” the release said.

The notices served by Assistant District Election Officers provide parties an opportunity to present their explanation. Written representations along with the required documents and affidavits can be submitted by the presidents or general secretaries of the parties.  “If no response is received within the stipulated deadline, the Election Commission may proceed with issuing appropriate orders, as mentioned in the Show Cause Notices issued to these 10 parties,” the release said.

M. Maheshwar Rao, Chief Civic Commissioner, BBMP, who is also the Bengaluru District Election Officer, has urged the representatives of the parties to appear in person on the date of hearing and utilise the opportunity to submit their written statements.