During the Maharashtra assembly polls, which are yet to take place, ECI has temporarily accredited the NCP (SP), Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar, to solicit contributions. This follows the party getting an interim registration when it was registered under the Representation of the People Act. This action enables the company to be under analysis. Namely, NCP (SP) provides certificates to the donors to substantiate their income tax exemptions, thus increasing the essential funding. ECI requires the party to file a contribution report for any donation over ₹20,000 made to the party.
The ECI, in a letter to the NCP (SP) on Monday, said, “After having regard to your letters dated 27.03.2024 and 04.04.2024, the ECI hereby authorizes on an interim basis, ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ to ‘accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than Government company.’” The NCP split last year when Ajit Pawar joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The authorization was given after the NCP (SP)’s eight-member delegation involving the working president, Supriya Sule, met with the chief election commissioner and other ECI officials in New Delhi. Sule wished to thank the ECI for the decision, stating that with its help, the party would be able to face the assembly elections without indulging in any form of unfair means, all totally relying on ‘white money’. In her comment, she said, “We were not receiving the tax exemptions for contribution like other political parties.” She stated her gratefulness to the ECI for providing a letter to enable her to receive funds legally and without secrecy.
However, an ECI official pointed out that registering on NCP (SP) was not done, but it was a recognized party across the country.
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