EC Seeks power to deregister political parties

New Delhi Feb 11: The Election Commission of India has Sought power to deregister the political parties as it currently doesn't have such power. The EC has filed an Affidavit in Supreme Court in this regard.

EC In its affidavit has said that "the EC should be given powers to de-register a political party and authorized to issue orders regulating registration and de-registration of political parties, particularly in view of its constitutional mandate."

The poll panel has filed an affidavit in response to a PIL by BJP leader and advocate Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay seeking to restrain convicted politicians from holding party posts.

The Affidavit has also stated that "a perusal of Section 29 (of the Representation of the People Act, 1951) provided for the procedure for registration of parties and also conferred discretionary powers on the EC to decide whether or not to register a party, it did not expressly confer any power regarding de-registration of parties."