All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday accepted the lapses on part of his party in filing the requisite documents with the SEC.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday accepted the lapses on part of his party in filing the requisite documents with the state election commission, which led the latter to cancel AIMIM's registration as a political party in Maharashtra. Owaisi said there was a delay by the AIMIM to submit the documents and they have written to the commission to 'condone their lapses'. 'The norms are that a political party must submit regular accounts and other details. Unfortunately, there have been lapses on our part. After we received a showcause notice, we had given a notice to the Maharashtra state election commission requesting them to condone our lapses,' Owaisi told ANI.
'Then we also submitted our documents, but I think it was too late. We will definitely appeal to the commission and in future we will abide by all prescribed norms,' he added. The Maharashtra Election Commission earlier in the day cancelled AIMIM's registration as a state political party for failing to file its income tax and funds details. The State Election Commission reportedly took this decision after the AIMIM did not respond to notices sent to the party asking it to submit the reports. The cancelation of its registration essentially means that the commission has barred AIMIM from contesting the state civic polls.
Parties banned by MSEC
The parties which lost their registration also include RPI-Khobragade faction, led by Uttam Khobragade and UP-based Peace Party. The decision to withdraw registration of 191 outfits was announced by State Election Commissioner J S Saharia. So far, 359 political parties have been registered with the Commission out of which 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 had failed to submit required documents, he said.
"If the parties want to contest elections in Maharashtra, they have to register," Saharia said. For long a Hyderabad-based party, AIMIM expanded its influence to Maharashtra in 2014 Assembly polls by winning two seats, one in Mumbai and another in Aurangabad.
Reacting to the SEC decision, AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan said his party would contest the order. "We received a notice from the SEC four months ago and we had clearly replied to it. Yet, they deregistered us. We will appeal against the decision to the higher authority," Pathan, who represents Byculla Assembly seat in the state Assembly, said.
A press release issued by the party's group leader in Maharashtra Assembly and Aurangabad MLA Imtiaz Jaleel said on receiving the SEC notice a party team from Hyderabad had gone to the Commission office in Mumbai and completed all the formalities as required by it including submission of IT returns.
The moment we get the SEC order we will go in appeal against it, he said. AIMIM respects the independent nature of the Election Commission and fully honour their decision to bring transparency in the election process. For AIMIM the upcoming local body elections are very crucial and the party will contest with full force, the release said.
With inputs from agencies
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