ECI Raised Serious Concerns Over Akali Dal Breakaway Faction Registration

The Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed to the Delhi High Court that it had encountered grave and sensitive objections while considering the registration of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), the breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The commission indicated that the nature of these objections warranted careful examination before proceeding with any decision on the party's formal registration. The ECI's statement came during ongoing proceedings related to the political party's application for recognition as a registered unrecognized party. According to the commission's submission, after it issued reminders to Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer to expedite the field verification process, the CEO submitted a positive verification report in April. This report, the ECI told the court, was actively under consideration as part of the registration evaluation process. The High Court was informed that the commission was examining all relevant aspects before arriving at a final determination regarding the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) application for official registration.