AAP to challenge disqualification of 20 of its legislators in Delhi HC today

Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party received a big blow with President Ram Nath Kovind approving the Election Commission's recommendation to disqualify 20 of its MLAs in the office of profit case.

While AAP plans to approach the courts against it, here are the highlights regarding the case -

• The AAP party appeal against the disqualification of 20 of its legislators will be heard in the Delhi High Court today.
• Speaking in this regard, Party Spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that AAP will challenge this biased, illegal and illogical order of the Modi government in the court of law.
• Election Commission wrote to the President recommending the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for holding the office of profit while serving as parliamentary secretaries between March 13, 2015, and September 8, 2016.
• Two days later, the Union Law and Justice Ministry issued a notification stating President Ram Nath Kovind has held that the 20 members of Delhi Legislative Assembly stand disqualified under 15 (1) (a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) act.
• Delhi will conduct by-polls for the 20 seats within the next six months if AAP doesn’t get a reprieve from the Courts.
• Calling it an unconstitutional, unethical and biased decision, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of orchestrating the whole matter to harass AAP.
• Addressing a gathering in Najafgarh, the BJP-led government has victimised AAP by imposing fake cases on the MLAs, conducted CBI raids but upon not achieving anything, they have disqualified 20 MLAs.
• In a tweet, Kejriwal said, I have always said that it was God's grace. He also knew that after three years these people would declare 20 of our MLAs disqualified. That's why he gave us 67 seats out of 70 in the Delhi Assembly polls.”
• In a House of 70, AAP government holds a majority in the Delhi assembly with 46 MLAs but recontesting the 20 vacant seats in the upcoming by-elections might become challenging to the party.
• BJP, on the other hand, welcomed the president's decision and demanded Kejriwal's resignation on moral grounds.
• Congress alleged that EC delayed the disqualification recommendation by a month.
• Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari demanded the disqualified MLAs repay the financial benefits they catered to during their tenure as parliamentary secretaries.
• BJP leader Yashwant Sinha also extended support for the decision and tweeted, President's order disqualifying the 20 AAP MLAs is a complete miscarriage of natural justice. No hearing, no waiting for High Court's order. It is Tughluqshahi of the worst order.”
• Rebel party leader Kapil Mishra was quoted saying to ANI, “ This is the win of Indian Constitution. Today, Arvind Kejriwal must have realised that nothing is bigger than the Constitution and law. Now, he also should not raise questions on the EVMs, the EC, and also President of India... he (Kejriwal) should be ready to face elections. Delhi will be going for elections soon and a new government will be formed.”