KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has decided to uphold the legitimacy of the Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’-led CPN-Maoist Center and scrap the petitions registered seeking the party’s revocation.

Giving its verdict on the petition filed by Advocate Saroj Budhathoki at the guidance of former Maoist Center leaders Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Prabhu Sah and Mani Thapa, among others, the EC authenticated the legitimacy of the Maoist Center on Sunday.

The joint bench of EC comprising Chief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, and commissioners Sagun Shumsher JBR, Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, Ram Prasad Bhandari and Ishwori Prasad Poudyal revoked both petitions filed by advocate Budhathoki and Bhabisor Parajuli.

Claiming himself as a genuine CPN-Maoist Center, Parajuli had filed a petition at EC. The EC warned Parajuli not to correspond using other party’s letters in future.