SHILLONG: The state’s political landscape is abuzz after the Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), BDR Tiwari, took a firm stand against four dormant political parties. Acting on a directive from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the CEO’s office has issued show-cause notices to the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), North East Social Democratic Party (NESDP), and the Regional Democratic Secular Congress (RDSC). The move is a significant step in the ECI’s ongoing nationwide drive to clean up the electoral rolls by delisting inactive parties.
According to CEO Tiwari, the notices were served as these parties have not contested a single Lok Sabha, Assembly, or bye-election since 2019, a period spanning more than six years. This prolonged absence has triggered a proposal from the ECI to remove them from the list of registered political parties. This comes as part of the Commission’s stringent measures to ensure that registered parties are genuinely active participants in the democratic process.
Before a final decision is made, the ECI has given the four parties an opportunity to present their case. They are required to submit a written explanation, complete with affidavits, their party constitutions, and other relevant documents, by September 3, 2025. A hearing has been scheduled for the same date. The CEO has been unequivocal in his warning, stating that “if no response is received from the parties by the aforesaid date, it will be presumed that the party has nothing to say in the matter and the commission will pass appropriate orders without any further reference to the party.” The presidents, general secretaries, or heads of the four organisations are expected to be present in person for the hearing to defend their status as a registered entity.
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