New Delhi: In a major setback for the ruling Aam Admi Party government in the national capital, the Election Commission on Friday recommended President Ram Nath Kovind to disqualify 20 legislators of the party for holding profit of office.
If the president approves the EC's recommendations,
bypolls will be held in the 20 assembly constituencies. Arvind Kejriwal's AAP has 65 seats in 70-member Delhi assembly. The lawmakers were appointed as parliamentary secretaries soon after assembly elections in Delhi in 2015. Opposition had earlier called for action against the AAP lawmakers for holding office of profit.
Here are the live updates on the disqualification of the AAP lawmakers.
Jan 19, 2018 21:40 (IST)
Breaking silence over Election Commission's recommendation to disqualify 20 AAP lawmakers, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "When you walk on the path of truth and honesty, you come across many hurdles. However, the universe conspires to help you. God helps you. Because you are not working for yourself but for the society and nation. History is witness that truth wins in the end."
Jan 19, 2018 19:09 (IST)
Delhi High Court will hold the next hearing in office of profit case on Monday, news agency ANI reported.
Jan 19, 2018 18:03 (IST)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee tweeted this evening, expressing support for Arvind Kejriwal. "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," she posted.
Jan 19, 2018 16:15 (IST)
Twelve lawmakers have been arrested. The rest have been disqualified. Those who started a movement against corruption, today, they are the most corrupt. Self guilt was quite evident: BJP leader Sambit Patra
Jan 19, 2018 16:11 (IST)
In the AAP MLAs holding office of profit case, the petition was made to disqualify 21 MLAs, but one of the legislators had resigned a few months back, news agency PTI reported.