*12 more political parties from J&K could face deregistration*
*CEO to serve show cause notices*
Srinagar, Aug : The Election Commission of India has initiated proceedings for deregistering 12 more political parties in Jammu & Kashmir.
As part of a comprehensive and continuous strategy of the Election Commission to clean up the electoral system, the poll-body has identified 12 J&K-based parties which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting even a single election for six years continuously, since 2019.
The Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to issue show-cause notices to these Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs), following which these parties will be given an opportunity through a hearing by him.
An official told news agency— the final decision regarding the delisting of these RUPP would be taken by the Election Commission of India.
“The final decision will be taken on the basis of a report submitted by the CEO,” he said.
The poll-body had last week deregistered the All Jammu & Kashmir Republican Party, Indian Peoples Conference Party and Socialist Democratic Party.
These parties were served show-cause in the month of June, asking them to explain why they shall not be de-registered.
The ECI initiated action against these parties after it was found that they did not contest any election in the past six years nor did they exist at the addresses registered with the poll-body—
