ECI raises objections to Amritpal Singh’s party registration, seeks probe report from Punjab CEO

Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

The registration of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) as a political party has run into fresh hurdles ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) informing the Delhi High Court that it has received serious and sensitive objections regarding the organisation.

The Commission told the court that concerns have been raised over the organisation's alleged separatist links and its commitment to India's sovereignty and integrity. A detailed background verification is currently underway.

Punjab CEO Asked to Conduct Background Verification

According to the ECI, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab had submitted a positive verification report regarding the organisation on April 27, 2026. However, the Commission received a sensitive input on July 9, raising questions about its alleged separatist background and national security implications.

Following this, on July 14, the ECI directed the Punjab CEO to conduct a comprehensive background investigation and submit a report. The Commission informed the court that the report is still awaited, despite reminders being sent to the state election authorities.

Application Filed in January 2025

The organisation had applied for registration as a political party on January 22, 2025, under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act.

The ECI stated that it had pointed out deficiencies in the submitted documents on September 10, 2025, and provided 30 days to rectify them. However, the revised documents were submitted only on January 16, 2026, which the Commission cited as another reason for the delay in the registration process.

Registration Delay May Affect 2027 Election Preparations

The registration process is significant for the organisation ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The ECI clarified that registration under Section 29A is a legal procedure and an organisation cannot claim the benefit of a common election symbol before completing the registration process.The party is led by Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh. The Delhi High Court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for January 11, 2027.