EC to enable immediate exit from parties from January 1

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that from January 1 onwards, general members of political parties will be allowed to immediately leave political parties. 

EC Vice President AbdulRahman Solah Rasheed told Mihaaru News today that in the instance a general member wants to leave a political party, they can submit a request through the EC's online portal, upon which the exit will be immediate. 

These changes will come into effect from January 1 onwards, according to Solah. 

He added that the same does not apply to parliament members and those holding positions within the party. In their case, a set period of time will be taken to make the exit official. 

"This period of time has not yet been decided by the commission. However, they won't be allowed immediate exits, as there are some legal issues which will need to be sorted before they can leave a party," he said. 

"There are some people [those in political party positions and parliament members] who we have blacklisted under the Anti-Defection Act. All these people are identified on our system now."

Currently, even for general members, leaving political party membership takes a 14 day period from the date of application. 

Solah said that discussions are also being held on voiding the current 3-day period for processing party membership application forms, and instead facilitating immediate membership. This can be done as applications are now submitted via e-Faas on the EC portal, and so, the verification process is already completed via e-Faas when the EC receives the application, he explained. 

"Even now there is an option where political parties can expedite the process and choose to have processing of forms completed within six hours," he said. 

Solah said that these changes are being brought as the commission has received complaints that the 14-day period acts as an obstruction to joining a different party and running in the party's internal elections. Additionally, he mentioned that complaints have been received about some parties compelling individuals to retain membership. 

"With how things are now, there are instances where someone applies to leave a party, and they have to remain a member for a long period of time while this is in verification process. Parties have the power to hold them. And then they give a reason, even if a lie, saying 'I want to run for this or that post, that's why I want to leave'. There are complaints like this," he said. 

"It is their own personal choice whether or not they want to stay in a party."

Solah said that some parties force members to stay on for the purpose of holding eligibility for the annual funds disbursed to political parties by the State.