In an apparent bid to check the mushrooming of political parties, the Election Commission of India has come out with a new set of guidelines for the registration of political parties. The new rule will come into force from October 15.
According to a press release of the EC, the Commission has from time to time, prescribed additional particulars for applicant parties. Under the 1951 Representation of People’s Act, the application for the registration of a party has to be submitted within 30 days with certain particulars like party name, address membership details and names of office-bearers. A salient feature under the new set of guidelines is that, it is mandatory for any party that wishes to be registered, to advertise in two national dailies and two local dailies giving the name, address and the names of the office-bearers.
This according to the Commission, is to give a chance to those to register their protest before the EC, should they have any.