The Election Commission on Friday recommended the disqualification of 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs over charges of holding ‘office of profit’. The recommendation has been sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his approval.
They are accused of holding office of Parliamentary Secretary without the concurrence of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor.
Twitter was abuzz with reactions following the development.
BJP leader and leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta tweeted: “Better late than never, EC Election disqualifies 20 AAP MLAs for holding ‘office of profit’. The AAP govt has much to answer to the public for their political impropriety as Delhi is headed for mid-term #elections. Will request Hon’ble President for speedy approval.”
In a second tweet he demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal: “Disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs is a huge moral defeat for CM @ArvindKejriwal. It has put his leadership in peril. He must resign on ethical grounds.”
Read more: Know Delhi AAP MLAs disqualified by EC | Complete list
Priti Gandhi, the National executive member of the BJP, tweeted: “Election Commission disqualifies 20 AAP MLAs for holding ‘office of profit’, sends recommendation to President. Egg on the face of pseudo-Krantikari’s!”
Joining the demand for Kejriwal’s resignation, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken wrote on Twitter: “Kejriwal has no right to continue. Half of his cabinet ministers removed on corruption charges! 20 MLAs who were enjoying ministerial perks would be disqualified! Where is Lokpal? The MLAs and Ministers enjoying perks of power and foreign travel-Where is political probity?”
Speaking to reporters, Maken said that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, had resigned from her position in 2006 over a similar controversy. “Why is the AAP afraid of resigning and contesting?” he asked adding that the party will hold demonstrations from Monday across Delhi.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “They (the AAP) used to play with the Constitution. Today the Constitution has shown them the mirror…Do they still have the morality of continuing (as Delhi government)?
“The self-guilt was quite evident with the fact that Kejriwal tried to bring in a law in June 2015. They tried to retrospectively keep the office of Parliamentary Secretaries, out of the list of office-of-profits.”
BJP Delhi president Manoj Tiwari said, “AAP has always been violating the law. The party has been creating Constitutional problems. This (the decision) will make the AAP realise that India is governed by the Constitution. We would have been happy had this decision come 20 months ago because then the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government wouldn’t have had an opportunity to loot Delhi for 20 more months. The BJP welcomes the EC decision. We are ready to fight elections even if we have to do so tomorrow.”
In defence, Raghav Chadha, National Spokesperson of AAP, claimed that the recommendation is vendetta politics.
“EC hasn’t even heard the OoP matter on merits and now makes ill-founded recommendations without giving AAP MLAs an opportunity of being heard. Blatant violation of principles of natural justice. This is taking vendetta to next level,” he wrote on Twitter.
AAP spokesperson Nagendra Sharma attacked the Modi government and the Election Commission in a series of tweets: “What (the) Modi government appointed Election Commission is leaking to the media is a recommendation made without hearing the arguments of MLAs on the false allegation of office of profit. Such a blatantly biased recommendation will not stand scrutiny in court of law.
“This must be the first ever recommendation in EC history where a recommendation has been sent without even hearing the main matter on merits. No hearing took place in the EC on the point of office of profit.”
Talking to reporters Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “There is no credible information. All reports are based on sources. I want to ask if people from constituencies of these 21 MLAs have seen them utilising government facilities like car, house or salary.”
The Election Commission has refused to comment on the recommendation.