The Election Commission said on Friday that it has scrapped registration of 11 political parties and fined 82 others for failing to submit their annual audit reports. Most of the groups facing penalty are smaller forces with little political clout.
The Election Commission said on Friday that it has scrapped registration of 11 political parties and fined 82 others for failing to submit their annual audit reports. Most of the groups facing penalty are smaller forces with little political clout.
On July 5, the EC had sought clarification from the parties failing to submit reports on time and given them a deadline to comply. Since almost all of them failed to do so, the EC was forced to ban and fine them, the commission said.
Among the parties delisted are Nawa Nepal Nirvan Party, Jana Unity Cooperative Party Limited, Tarai Madhes Pahad Himal Ekata Party, Hariyali Nepal Party, Om Sena Nepal, Nawa Janabadi Morcha, Nepal Communist Party (Samyukta Marxbadi), Nepal Prajatantrik Yuba Party, Nepal Jana Sangh Party, Nepal Dalit Sramik Morcha and Nepal Communist Party (Ekikrit).
Of the 12 parties that were asked to defend themselves, 11 faced cancellation of registration citing Clause 24 of the Election Commission Act. Only the Rastriya Shiva Sena Party was spared. The law empowers the EC to scrap the registration of the parties that fail to furnish the required details for three consecutive years.
The name, election symbol and flag of the parties taken off the EC register will be frozen for a year without allowing any other party to use them. Besides, 82 other parties were fined Rs100 in line with Clause 16 of the Political Party Registration Act. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Madhes; Chure Bhawar Rastriya Party, Limbuwan Mukti Morcha, Samyukta Janamorcha, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Ganatantrik) and Nepal Samata Party are among the parties required to pay the fines within 35 days.
Most of the fringe parties were created just before the elections due to the potential for any party to secure a few seats in the proportional electoral system. Once the polls are over, most of the parties disappear. In a political malpractice, even the parties having a single seat in Parliament often get to appoint a minister.
On the petty amount of fine, Election Commissioner Ila Sharma said the EC has proposed, in a new law, cancellation of registration of a party if it does not submit the audit report every year.
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