Maharashtra poll panel issues notice to 280 parties

Mumbai: The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued show cause notices to 280 political parties in Maharashtra for not submitting audit and income tax return, announcing they will face de-registration if they fail to submit it before December 30.

Of 280 political parties, most of them are from Mumbai, Thane and Western Maharashtra, while few of them are from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, State Election Commissioner J S Saharaiya said.

Mumbai has 40 political parties which are on radar of the SEC, while 20 are from Thane district, 25 political parties got notice from Jalgaon, 24 from Pune, 22 from Ahemdnagar, 13 from Solapur, 21 from Satara, 13 from Sangli and 14 from Kolhapur includes Tararani Aghadi Paksha.

The show cause notice, issued to 280 parties includes Ramdas Athawale's Republican Party of India (RPI), Prakash Ambedkar's Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, ruling BJP ally Mahadeo Jankar's Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), underworld don turned politician Arun Gawli's Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS), Rajan Vichare's 'Dharmarajya Paksha', and Sharad Joshi's 'Swatantra Bharat Paksha'.

These 280 political parties might lose the recognition and registration if they fail to submit their accounts, income tax returns and audit report to the SEC till December 30, the SEC said.

On the same ground 'Lok Bharati' a party which represent by MLC from teacher's constituency Kapil Patil in the Maharashtra Legislative Council was de-registered recently by SEC.

"In June 2015, the SEC has issued notices to 19 political parties including Lok Bharati, RPI (A), Swabhimani Paksha and Jansurajya Paksha. Of 19, only 3 had been turned up while others failed to submit IT returns and audit accounts.

The SEC however has de-registered all 16 parties. After which RPI (A), Swabhimani Paksha and Jansurajya Paksha pleaded SEC and sought more time to submit relevant documents to save registration. Now they have time till December 30 to fulfil documents," Saharaiya said.