Speak up Delhi: Transport Min Kailash Gahlot among 20 AAP MLAs disqualified

Fresh trouble brewed for the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday with the President Ram Nath Kovind approving the Election Commission’s (EC) disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs. The EC observed that the 20 legislators held office of profit, which was in violation of Constitutional norms.

The AAP government had appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries soon after it came to power in 2015. One of the MLAs from Rajouri Garden resigned from the post to contest Punjab Assembly polls, bringing the number of PS to 20. The 20 disqualified lawmakers include popular faces like Alka Lamba, Kailash Gehlot, Adarsh Shashtri, Som Dutt, among others. Upholding the recommendation given by the top election body, the notification issued by the law ministry read, “Having considered the matter in the light of the opinion expressed by the Election Commission, I, Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, in exercise of the powers, do here hold that the aforesaid 20 members of the Delhi legislative assembly stand disqualified from being members of the said assembly.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the meantime, will continue to enjoy majority in the assembly, albeit with significantly reduced numbers. The AAP rode home to power with 67 seats in 2015, which came down to 63. 
The party suspended cabinet minister Asim Ahmed Khan and later sacked Sandeep Kumar who got embroiled in a sex scandal. After sometime, Kapil Mishra, another legislator also rebelled against AAP. The Kejriwal government, which stares at by-elections on the 20 seats, will now have a majority of, still notches above the half mark of 35.

The EC’s decision on Thursday led to crossfire of remarks from AAP and its arch rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party. AAP leaders minced no words in accusing the central government of arm twisting them and a larger conspiracy being hatched. In a sharp rebuttal, it trained guns at Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti for acting at the behest of the Narendra Modi government. Reacting to the development, Kejriwal had tweeted, “The path of truth and honesty is marred by many obstacles, which is inevitable. But the universe and almighty conspires in favour of the righteous. Time is proof that truth always triumphs in the end because we are dedicated towards serving the nation and the society, and not our personal gains.”

Meanwhile, clamour for the CM to step down on ‘moral grounds’ grew across rival parties. Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken tweeted, “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?” 

AAP FUMES

• The EC’s decision on Thursday led to crossfire of remarks from AAP and its arch rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party
   
• AAP leaders minced no words in accusing the central government of arm twisting them and a larger conspiracy being hatched
   
• In a sharp rebuttal, it trained guns at Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti

EXPERT SPEAK

This is a victory of the constitution and people of Bharat. I am a proud Hindu and an ardent devotee of Hanuman(ji). This is a matter of principles. I have nothing against Arvind Kejriwal or these AAP MLAs. I am very happy that my struggle has paid off.
Prashant P Umrao, advocate who filed petition against the 20 legislators

VOICES

I support the decision taken by the EC. The AAP government was very much in the know of Constitutional rules yet it decided to go ahead with the appointments. They should keep their conscience clean before casting aspersions at others as is their trait. There is no way the 20 MLAs did not enjoy any perks that came with the post of parliamentary secretaries.
—Poonam Gogia, Delhi Cantonment

The Election commission will set a new precedence by the disqualifications. Rules are the same for everyone. The AAP will cry foul because it is in the wrong. Kejriwal should not call it a political witch hunt and bringing the role of the CEC under scanner is not ethical. He should resign on moral grounds.
—Shariq Ali Khan, Dwarka

I have never been in favour of the way AAP government has worked or tweaked rules to suit their interests. While these lawmakers may play the victim, truth is that they took the voter who brought them to power, for a ride. The CM must display some moral propriety and probity. He is answerable to the public. As he said, truth will prevail. Truth has prevailed. His MLAs held the office of profit in gross violation.
—Shaurya Pruthi, Saket

Our government is being targeted for the honest work we have been doing in the city for the past three years. BJP is unhappy with the successes of AAP in Delhi. The MLAs were not given an opportunity to present evidence with them. They have a lot to tell and prove that there was no office of profit case. It is unconstitutional and illegal.
—Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister

I feel the AAP MLAs should have been given an opportunity to explain their stance. They have been shown the door all of a sudden. Unfortunately, the current politics is such that it is tough to decide what is the real truth. 
—Manan Kumar, Vikaspuri

I think it is unfair to disqualify 20 MLAs. The MLAs should have seen it coming if the government had violated Constitutional rules. Nevertheless, as another by-poll is in the offing, the tax payer’s hard earned money will be spent on it. 
—Sagar Sharma, Badarpur