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Election Commission ‘disqualifies’ 20 AAP MLAs

In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission on Friday sent recommendation to President Ram Nath…

Election Commission ‘disqualifies’ 20 AAP MLAs

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. (Photo: SNS/File)

In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission on Friday sent recommendation to President Ram Nath Kovind to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs in the ‘office of profit’ case.

The disqualification will lead to by-polls in Delhi for 20 seats.

Responding to the latest development, AAP said the EC has hit a new low because the legislators were not given a chance to present their case.

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In a tweet, AAP leader Ashutosh  attacked the electoral body and said, “EC should not be the letter box of the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office)…but that is a reality today… (A) person like me who has covered EC as reporter during (ex-EC chef TN) Seshan days, today I can say EC has never touched so low ever. Sad.”

Another AAP leader alleged that EC was trying to repay the Prime Minister.

“Election Commission chief AK Joti is trying to repay Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi before he retires,” alleged Saurabh Bhardwaj (AAP) in a press conference.

AAP leaders Sanjeev jha, Alka Lamba, Nitish Tyagi, Adarsh Shastri and Sarita Singh are among the lawmakers who face disqualification.

The office of profit petition was filed against 21 AAP MLA. Later, proceedings were dropped against Jarnail Singh after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest Assembly polls in Punjab.

On September 8, 2016, the high court had set aside the appointment of the 21 AAP MLAs as parliamentary secretaries.

The court had observed that the order to appoint them as parliamentary secretaries was given without the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor.

 

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