Election Commission Cancels Registration of 41 Political Parties in Nepal

The Election Commission (EC) has canceled Registration 41 political parties for failing to submit audit reports for three consecutive fiscal years. A meeting of the EC held on Tuesday canceled the registration of 41 parties that did not submit their reports with effect from Wednesday. Out of 136 parties registered with the commission, 41 parties have been canceled and now the number of parties is 95.

The Commission has decided that the names, flags, and symbols of the rejected parties will not be used by any other party for one year from the date of rejection. According to the spokesperson of the commission, Raj Kumar Shrestha, along with the dismissal of the party, action has also been taken against the office bearers of the working committee of those parties.

"It has been decided to send a letter to Kumari Chowk and Central Tehsil Office, Baber Mahal to collect the fine amount from each of the 41 parties. The commission spokesperson Shrestha said," In order to prevent the central office bearers and members of the disbanded parties from becoming office-bearers of other parties for a period of time, it has been decided to proceed with the proceedings in accordance with the law only after registering a new party and updating the existing parties.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the registration canceled parties include Rastriya Trimul Bahujan Samajwadi Party, Rastriya Jana Ekta Party, Hamro Party, New Federalism Janadharan Party, Mathrubhumi Nepal Party, Nepal Nagarik Party, Deshbhakta Paryavarani Samajik Morcha and Nepal Judicial Party. Similarly, Akhand Nepal Party, Yuva Shakti Nepal Party, Hamro Nepal Party, Rashtriya Churebhawar Party, Rashtriya Shiv Sena Party, Shramik Janata Party Nepal, Neva Rashtriya Party, Nepal Prajatantrik Pragatishil Party, Madhes Samata Party Nepal, Nepali Congress Nationalist, Churebhawar Rashtriya Party, Hindu Prajatantrik Party, Rashtriya Punarjagaran Party, Yuva Nepal Party, Bhiwaral Democratic Party, New People's Party, Nepal Loktantrik Janata Congress, Nepal Ganatantrik Ekta Party, Tarai Pahad Himal Samaj Party, Churebhawar Rashtriya Ekta Party Nepal, Rashtriya Janata Dal Nepal, Lok Kalyankari Janata Party Nepal, Intellectual Democratic Council Nepal has been disbanded.

The commission has also revoked the registration of Rastriya Shramik Nagarik Party, Mulwasi Mukti Party, Deshbhakt Loktantrik Party, Federal Limbuwan Nepal, Nepal Shramik Shakti Party, Kirat Khambuwan Loktantrik Party, Dalit Muslim Janashakti Party and Janata Party Azad Janata Party.

Earlier, on April 22, 86 political parties, including 46 political parties that did not submit audit reports for three consecutive fiscal years, were asked for clarification. Of the 46 political parties that failed to submit audit reports for three consecutive years, 41 were canceled on Tuesday.

According to the Political Parties Act 2073, the parties registered with the Commission are required to keep a clear account of their income and expenditure and submit the audit within six months of the end of the fiscal year to the Commission. In case the parties do not submit their audit report within the stipulated time, the commission may order to submit an explanation within 45 days and the parties have to submit an explanation.

There is a provision for the commission to order the parties that do not submit the audit report for three consecutive years to rectify it within six months and if not, the commission can order them not to participate in an immediate election. According to the law, the commission can revoke the registration of a party if it commits a misdemeanor more than once or fails to comply with the given order within one year, or fails to pay the prescribed fine.

List of Political Parties with registration canceled: