Arvind Kejriwal's election should be cancelled, says BJP; court seeks explanation

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Law Minister Somnath Bharti have been asked to explain whether they spent more on their recent election to the Delhi legislature than legally permitted.  Both leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP have to respond by February 25 to the Delhi High Court.

The case has been filed by the Opposition BJP, which alleges that Mr Bharti and Mr Kejriwal spent more than the permitted amount of 14 lakhs each. The BJP says this is ground for their election to be cancelled.

The BJP says it's charge is based on a music concert held by AAP in Delhi as part of its campaign for the Delhi election. Senior BJP leaders in Delhi claim that 39 lakhs was spent on the event, which featured singer Vishal Dadlani.

The BJP says that Mr Kejriwal, the Law Minister and another AAP leader Shazia Ilmi, who unsuccessfully contested the Delhi election, were present at the concert. The Opposition says that if the cost of the concert is divided among the three candidates, each of them ends up with a tab of 13 lakhs each for just this function.

But AAP sources say that the performers at the concert did not charge the party, so the BJP's allegations are baseless.