In a major setback for the ruling party in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Election Commission (EC) on Friday disqualified 20 of its MLAs on the grounds of holding ‘office of profit’. The disqualification of the legislators is expected to pave way for by-elections in the National Capital.
The controversy over the MLAs holding “office of profit” (as parliamentary secretaries) started soon after AAP’s victory in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. In between, the MLAs made pleas to the EC first and the Delhi High Court later that the case against them be dropped. But, their pleas were rejected.
The EC has now sent its recommendation to disqualify the 20 MLAs to President for his approval.
AAP, which registered a record victory in 2015 elections, has been reeling under controversies ever since. Almost half of the Cabinet Ministers were sacked earlier on corruption charges, and now, the disqualification of 20 MLAs. No ruling party has such dubious distinctions!