We have no power to de-register parties: EC

The Chief Election Commission (EC) of India, SY Quraishi, on Friday said it does not have any power to deregister political parties that are 'redundant' or were 'bogus' in the first place. Speaking to media persons in New Delhi, Quraishi said hundreds of parties are defunct but cannot be deregistered. However, Quraishi has already recommended to the government that the law regulating registration of parties should be amended authorising it not only to deregister them on sufficient grounds but also to regulate them so that they practice democracy in their internal functioning.