Big worry for Arvind kejriwal! EC may derecognise AAP for not submitting expenditure details

New Delhi, march 19: Arvind Kejriwal has to worry more now. At a time when party leaders have yet to sort out ongoing ego tussle between warring fractions, this will add to their cup of woes.

Reportedly, the Election Commission may derecognise party as it failed to submit expenditure statements for the last Lok Sabha polls. The Commission on Wednesday issued show cause notices threatening de-recognition of six political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the same.

Issuing a stern warning to these parties, the poll-panel has invoked the provisions of section 16(A) of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order which empowers the Commission "to suspend or withdraw recognition of a recognised political party" for violation of set norms, even as it gave these parties a final window of 20 days to comply.

The parties, who have been issued the notices, include the AAP, Peoples Party of Arunachal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Kerala Congress (M), National People Party of Manipur and Haryana Janhit Congress (BL).

The EC has taken the decision after two of its earlier "reminders" in this regard to these parties went unacknowledged, sources said.

According to rules, all political parties who have contested the general elections are stipulated to file their expenditure statements within a period of 90 days to the EC, failing which they stand to lose their election symbol and thereby their recognition.

The EC had earlier issued reminders to these parties on October 22 and November 28 last year and since it did not receive the said expenses statements from these parties, it chose to issue the "final show-cause" notices.

AAP used forged documents?

Meanwhile in another development, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking cancellation of Aam Aadmi Party's registration with the Election Commission on the ground that it used forged documents for the purpose.

The division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw rejected the plea that also sought an inquiry into the alleged irregularities during registration of the AAP by the poll panel.

The court's order came on a PIL filed by Hans Raj Jain, who had questioned the use of national emblem (Ashoka Chakra) by the AAP during its registration with the Election Commission. He argued this is a violation of the Constitution as no one can use the national emblem for personal use.

The plea said the AAP submitted on December 3, 2012, a request for registration of the party on its letter pad with the national emblem, which was unconstitutional and illegal.

It also said that the AAP used forged documents to register the party.

The Election Commission earlier told the court there was "no lapse or any undue haste" in granting registration to the AAP and it was given after the requirements were met.

It also said that no norms were violated while registering the party.

OneIndia News

(with inputs from PTI)