Maharashtra poll panel deregisters 191 parties

Mumbai, Jul 13: The State Election Commission (SEC) in Maharashtra, which conducts local body polls, today deregistered 191 local political parties including AIMIM for failure to submit Income Tax returns and audited accounts.

The parties which lost their registration also includes RPI-Khobragade faction, State Election Commissioner J S Saharia said here today. AIMIM has two members in the state Assembly. So far, 359 political parties have been registered with the Commission.

Of these, 17 are recognised parties, he said. Notices were served to 326 parties for failure to submit necessary documents, Saharia said.

Despite sending reminders to them and extending the deadline on request of some of them, they have allegedly failed to submit any documents, he said. "If the parties want to contest elections in Maharashtra, they have to register," Saharia said.

PTI