EC seeks power to de-register political parties

The Election Commission (EC) filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Saturday, seeking power to de-register political parties.

The apex court will hear the matter on Monday.

The EC also asked for the authority to regulate political parties.

Underscoring the importance of inner-party democracy, the poll body further suggested that the Legislature should amend the laws to empower EC for ensuring inner-party democracy.

The EC conveyed its stand to the apex court in response to a PIL that questioned why convicted persons, otherwise disqualified from contesting polls, should be able to form a political party by taking benefits of a dichotomy in the existing legal regime.

The petition, filed by lawyer-activist Ashwini Upadhyay, had also demanded that the EC should have the power to ensure inner-party democracy.