Waris Punjab De seeks Governor Kataria’s intervention over delay in ECI party registration

A delegation of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday, seeking his intervention over the delay in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) process to register the organisation as a political party.

The delegation, led by senior leader and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, included Lok Sabha MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa and the party’s parliamentary board convenor Kabal Singh.

The leaders also raised allegations concerning the occupation of government accommodation in Chandigarh for political purposes and sought an investigation into the allotment and use of government houses.

Party alleges hurdles in registration process

Ayali alleged that deliberate hurdles were being created in the registration process despite the organisation having elected representation through two MPs and an MLA.

He questioned the security-related objections raised during the process, calling them unjustified, and cited the contribution and sacrifices of Punjab and the Sikh community to the country.

The party has previously said that the ECI cited national security concerns while considering its application. The issue has also reached the Delhi High Court. In July, the court issued notice to the ECI on a petition seeking registration of the proposed political party, noting that the application had been filed on January 22, 2025, but had not been acted upon at that stage.

The ECI later told the Delhi High Court that intelligence inputs had raised concerns related to national security, while clarifying that the application remained under consideration.

Waris Punjab De leaders have rejected the suggestion that the organisation poses a threat and have maintained that they have fulfilled the requirements for registration. Ayali had also said earlier that the outfit would contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections even if its candidates had to contest as Independents in the absence of formal registration.

Delegation raises Chandigarh accommodation issue

The delegation also alleged misuse of government resources in Chandigarh.

Ayali accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of allowing state resources to be misused and demanded an investigation into the allotment and occupation of government accommodation.

The issue was raised alongside the demand for early registration of Waris Punjab De as a political party.

The delegation also submitted another memorandum seeking the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing a CBI probe into alleged corruption-related accusations concerning the Chief Minister’s Office, according to The Tribune.

Waris Punjab De steps up political activity

The registration dispute comes as Waris Punjab De expands its organisational activities in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The organisation was launched in January 2025 and applied for registration with the ECI on January 22 that year. It currently has two Lok Sabha MPs, Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, who were elected as Independents in the 2024 general election. Ayali, who was elected from Dakha on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket, joined the organisation in June and became its first sitting MLA.

The party has said it wants registration and an election symbol before the Punjab polls. Its leaders have also maintained that they will contest the election regardless of the outcome of the registration process.

The latest meeting with Kataria is part of the organisation’s efforts to press its case over the pending registration as it builds its political presence in the state.