ECI Issues Show-Cause Notice to INPT Over Party Deregistration

Agartala, Aug 14 (PTI) — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a show-cause notice to the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), demanding a written explanation as to why the party should not be removed from the list of registered political parties, according to a government release.

Former rebel-turned-politician Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl established the INPT in 2002 with the objective of uniting tribal political forces. However, the INPT merged with the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) in 2021.

"According to the Commission's records, the INPT did not field candidates in the general elections for the House of the People and the Tripura State Legislative Assembly in 2018 and 2023, nor in any by-elections for the past two general elections. It is apparent that the party has ceased to function as a political entity," stated the show-cause notice, which was distributed by the Information & Cultural Affairs (ICA) department on Wednesday.

The ECI intends to revoke the party's recognition from the list of registered political parties.

"Before proceeding to withdraw the party's recognition, the Commission intends to offer the party an opportunity to make a representation or show cause as to why this proposed action should not be taken," the notice explained.

"Consequently, the INPT is requested to submit a written representation to the ECI, should it desire to do so. Such a representation, if any, must be accompanied by an affidavit from the president or general secretary of the party, supported by documents upon which the party intends to rely, and should be submitted by 21.08.2025," it stated.

The party's hearing date is scheduled for August 28 at 3 p.m. in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Tripura, Agartala.

"If no response is received from the party by the due date, it will be assumed that the party has nothing further to add on the matter, and appropriate action will be undertaken without further correspondence," the notice added.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)