AIADMK row: EC tells SC it doesn’t monitor inner-party functions

The Election Commission of India has told the Supreme Court that it does not regulate or monitor inner-party functions or internal elections of any political party as the same is neither envisaged under the Constitution of India nor under any other law. Filing an affidavit in the AIADMK leadership issue, the poll panel said the bye-laws dated July 11, 2022 were not taken on record by it as the same is under challenge before the top court. “Election Commission does not regulate or monitor inner-party functions or internal elections of any political party as the same is neither envisaged under the Constitution of India nor under any other law. Only insofar as recognised political parties are concerned, the Election Commission is mandated to ensure that all recognised political parties report to it about the holding of their elections at prescribed intervals as provided in their respective party constitutions and that they also submit the list of office bearers elected at the Central level,” the affidavit said. The monitoring of such elections within the recognised political parties, by the Election Commission, is only to the extent that they are conducted in time as mentioned in the bye-laws of the party constitution, it added. The Election Commission has filed its response on an application of AIADMK interim General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami seeking an interim order in the AIADMK leadership case while citing the deadline for filing nominations in the upcoming Erode (East) constituency by-polls. The fresh application has sought directions to the Election Commission to upload the amendments made to the party by-laws during the July 11 general council meeting. After five reminders since July 11 to the Election Commission to upload the amended by-laws of the party, Palaniswami again approached the Commission on January 23, it was claimed. Palaniswami urged the poll panel to upload the amended by-laws or alternatively confirm in writing, author