But in a move to curb "unscrupulous elements" taking over political parties, the EC has struck down Sharma's claim that he was the "elected" president of the AIIC(S) and that the recognition to the party should continue.

Sharma simultaneously tried to get recognition for his own All India Bhartiya Congress party, but was taking no chances. In a completely devious manner he got himself elected President of the AIIC(S), a party recognised under the Representation of the People Act and which had been allotted the symbol of a "lady offering flowers".

After media reports two months ago that the AIIC(S) had merged with the Congress party, the EC had sent notices to both parties to clarify their stand on their status. Neither party repliedto the EC's missives.

Meanwhile, the lone MP from the AIIC(S) Sis Ram Ola also rejoined the Congress party. The AIIC(S) "leadership" was entrusted to four persons, Jageshwar Prasad who was designated president, Romesh Sharma, M A Haleem and Ramakant Chaturvedi.

In mid-October, the EC received a letter, from the AIIC(S) general Secretary Anshu Aggarwal that Jageshwar Prasad had resigned from the President's post, and that Sharma had been "unanimously" elected as its new president in a meeting of the executive committee of the party held on September 20.

Soon afterwards, Sharma followed up with a letter to the Commission in his capacity as president of the AIIC(S), informing the EC about the change of the party's address to "new" premises on Mahadev Road. In the interim the police had closed in on Sharma, unravelling his links with the underworld, discovering numerous cases where had grabbed and taken over prime properties and revealing assets well beyond his known sources of income.

While rejectingSharma's claim to the Presidentship of the AIIC(S), the EC said the election of the office bearers of the party was not in accordance with the party's own constitution and that it would not take cognisance of any communication from the party.

The EC's 18-page order was also a warning to all political parties that elections have to be viewed as a "serious business", and registered political parties which do not contest the polls over long intervals would be "struck off rolls of the Commission".