West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took to Twitter to show solidarity with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the issue of EC’s recommending disqualification of 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

Banerjee took to Twitter saying, “A Constitutional body cannot be used for political vendetta. The 20 AAP MLAs were not even given a hearing by the Hon EC. Most unfortunate”.

Banerjee, while showing solidarity with the AAP, said “This goes against the principles of natural justice. At this hour we are strongly with @arvindkejriwal and his team”.

A Constitutional body cannot be used for political vendetta. The 20 AAP MLAs were not even given a hearing by the Hon EC. Most unfortunate. This goes against the principles of natural justice.At this hour we are strongly with @arvindkejriwal and his team

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 19, 2018

The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) recommendation to disqualify 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs for holding ‘office of profit’ has caused fresh trouble for Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government as their disqualification may lead to by-polls in Delhi for as many seats. However, the AAP is still in a comfortable position to enjoy majority in the House.

Currently, AAP has 66 seats in Delhi Assembly and following the disqualification, the party will be reduced to 46 seats.

The ECI on Friday recommended their disqualification citing their appointed as parliamentary secretaries as “unconstitutional”.

Initially, the profit for office case was against 21 MLAs before Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh resigned from his post to contest elections against former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2017 state election.

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 then Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

Initially, the profit for office case was against 21 MLAs before Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh resigned from his post to contest elections against former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2017 state election.

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 then Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.