"The commission will begin to register new political parties within a week as we have already looked into the applications regarding legal criteria for registration of new parties," Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav told Republica on Sunday.[break]
According to him, altogether 33 applications for new political parties have been forwarded for registration at the constitutional body. "We will register new political parties that have applied in the accordance with the Political Parties Act, 2058 (2002)," Yadav added.
The EC had halted registration of new political parties after the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls in 2008. However, new parties that split from the political parties represented in the erstwhile CA have been registered.
Sources at the EC said that the constitutional body had stopped registering new parties stating that the registration process would resume in the line with new constitution after May 27.
When asked why the EC delayed to register new parties even after the dissolution of the CA, Yadav said, "The EC would have resumed the registration process earlier but we could not do so as we were busy reviewing annual programs and activities in the recent days."
According to EC officials, the constitutional body has received applications for registration from Rastriya Sama-Mukti Party, Madhes Tarai Forum, United Nepal Republican Party, Gandaki Dhawalagir Marxist Leninist Dal, Loktantrik Gandhibadi Party, Janamorcha Nepal, Nepal Dalit Party and Tarai Madhes Himal Ekta Party.
Similarly, Rastrabadi Dal, Madhesi Yuva Lokatantrik Party, Lokatantrik Party Nepal, Rastriya Shiv Sena Party, Nepal Rastrabadi Party, Garib Ekta Samaj Party Nepal, Yuva Nepal Party, Tharuhat Tarai Party, Nepal and Hindu Rastra Nepal, among other new parties have sought registration from the EC.
Altogether 74 political parties were registered for the CA polls in 2008 while 54 had participated. Altogether 86 political parties are registered in EC.
Meanwhile, CPN-Maoist on Sunday informed the EC about formation of the party. The dissident faction of UCPN (Maoist) led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya had formed the new party on June 19.
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