Election Commission suspends recognition of PA Sangma-led National People's Party
Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended recognition of the PA Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) which was a recognized state party in Meghalaya.
The recognition of NPP was suspended under para 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 after the party failed to file the election expenditure statement incurred in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
ECI decision in this regard comes in line with Supreme Court’s judgement in the case of Common Cause Vs Union of India and others. In this judgement SC had made compulsion for all political parties to file their election expenditure statement within 75 days of assembly elections and 90 days of Lok Sabha elections.
In case of NPP, they failed report their election expenses even after ECI had slapped two show cause notices in this regard. With this, NPP became first party to be suspended under Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, for its failure to follow the lawful directions of the ECI.
About National People’s Party (NPP)
- NPP was founded in January 2013 by P A Sangma, nine-time Member of Parliament from Meghalaya.
- Election symbol of party was Book.
- It is a national-level tribalcentric political party. It had most of its influence concentrated in the state of Meghalaya.
- At present NPP has one Lok Sabha member- PA Sangma from Tura constituency from Meghalaya. It also has 4 members in Rajasthan Legislative assembly and 2 in Meghalaya Legislative assembly.
Month: Current Affairs - June, 2015