The State Election Commission (SEC) of Maharashtra on Wednesday cancelled the registrations of 57 political parties for their failure to submit all documents relating to their IT returns and audited accounts mandatory under the Representation of the People Act.
With Wednesday's development, the total number of political de-registered by the SEC in the State has gone up to 248.
Confirming the decision to cancel the registrations of 57 political parties, State Election Commissioner JS Saharia said, "We had in all 365 registered political parties. Of them, there are 17 recognised political parties. Given that it is mandatory on political parties to file their IR returns and audited accounts under the Representation of the People Act, we had served notices on 326 parties which had failed to comply the requirement. Of these 326 parties, 78 parties submitted their papers. We had no choice but to de-register the remaining 248 parties".
Among the political parties that have been de-registered are; Hindu Rashtra Sena, Bharatiya Prajasathak Party, Maharashtra Parivartan Sena, Republican Socialist Party, Janvikas Party, Swatantra Bharat Paksha, Bharatiya Bahujan Sena, Dhule and Mahanagar Vikas Agadhi.
Wednesday's was the second occasion in the last one and half months when the SEC cracked the whip and de-registered political parties.
In the earlier action taken on July 13, th SEC had de-registered 191 political parties - including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Swabhimani Paksh, lokbharti and Jansurajya Shakti for their failed to file their IT returns and audited accounts mandatory under the Representation of the People Act.
After it de-registered 191 parties, the SEC had asked the parties concerned, including AIMIM, to re-apply forregistration by submitting all the mandatory documents.
On August 8, the SEC revoked its decision to cancel the registrations of six parties — All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, the Republican Party of India (A), Swabhimani Paksh, lokbharti, Jansurajya Shakti and Amalner Taluka Vikash Aghadi , after they submitted the documents sought from them by the State election body.