AAP in soup as 20 MLAs face axe

Both the Congress and BJP which suffered in the AAP surge said they are ready for elections

In a blow to Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission on January 19, asked the President to disqualify 20 AAP legislators who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries.

The petition was made to disqualify 21 MLAs, but one of them, resigned. This move has set the stage for their ouster from the Assembly and for a mini-election that will see the AAP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress vie for the 70-member-strong Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Both the Congress and the BJP, which performed badly in the AAP surge, said they were ready for the elections.

In further developments, the Delhi High Court on January 19 refused to pass any interim order of protection to AAP MLAs, whose names have been recommended for disqualification as legislators by the Election Commission for holding office of profit.

Justice Rekha Palli, however, asked the EC to inform it on January 22 whether the recommendation has been communicated to President Ram Nath Kovind, as the MLAs have sought that they be heard by the poll panel if no such communication has been made.

During the hearing, the court made it clear that it was not inclined to pass any interim order in view of the conduct of the MLAs in the proceedings before the poll panel.

In its defence, the AAP launched an unrestrained attack on chief election commissioner A.K. Joti, saying that he was “repaying the debt” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his retirement on January 22.

When you take the path of honesty, you are bound to face hurdles. However, all the forces of universe come together to help you. God helps you. History is witness that in the end, truth prevails. — ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Delhi CM