Kejriwal must go trends on Twitter, Mamata backs him: 10 points on AAP row

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that 'hurdles naturally come when one walks on the path of truth'

In a major blow to the AAP in Delhi, the Election Commission on Friday recommended disqualification of 20 of its MLAs for holding office of profit as Parliamentary Secretaries, triggering calls for the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and an angry reaction from the ruling party. The Election Commission gave its opinion to President Ram Nath Kovind on a complaint by advocate Prashant Patel, a member of the Hindu Legal Cell, in June 2015, who petitioned the then President Pranab Mukherjee alleging illegality in the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries.

Here are top 10 developments

1. In the end, truth will win: Arvind Kejriwal

 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that "hurdles naturally come when one walks the path of truth".

"Hurdles do come when one walks the path of truth and honesty. This is natural. But all the visible and invisible powers of the universe help you. God supports you, because you don't work for yourself but for the nation and the society," Kejriwal posted on Twitter.

"History is witness that it is truth that wins in the end," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor added.

2.'Delhi Congress begins planning for possible bypolls'

Spurred by the news of Election Commission's recommendation for disqualification of 20 ruling AAP MLAs in the office of profit case, the Delhi Congress on Friday got down to planning for possible by-polls in the affected constituencies, party sources said. A meeting attended by Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken and AICC in-charge of the state unit PC Chacko, the party functionaries discussed the emerging scenario and possible elections in the 20 Assembly segments.

"The discussions centred around the disqualification of 20 MLAs and by-polls in the affected constituencies. It was decided to hold conventions in all the 20 constituencies in coming days," said a senior party leader who attended the meeting. The Delhi Congress will also hold a demonstration against the Kejriwal government on the issue of "corruption" on Tuesday, he said.

3. EC's touched a new low, says angry AAP

Hitting out at the Election Commission, the Aam Aadmi Party alleged on Friday that "the vindictive recommendation was made at the behest of the BJP-led central government", adding chief election commissioner A K Joti was "repaying the debt" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his retirement.

AAP Delhi chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said: "A K Joti was the principal secretary under (the then Gujarat chief minister) Narendra Modi and then the chief secretary of Gujarat. He is retiring on Monday. So you want to repay Modiji's debt. You are mortgaging a constitutional post like the EC." AAP, whose government in the city will not face any threat even after its 20 MLAs are disqualified, claimed, "EC has touched the lowest point in its history" as it did not give the party MLAs any chance to present their case.

4. Twitter was abuzz with reactions

5. BJP welcomes move

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.”

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!”


6. Mamata Banerjee backs Kejriwal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee supported Kejriwal. She tweeted: “A Constitutional body cannot be used for political vendetta. The 20 AAP MLAs were not even given a hearing by the Hon’ble Election Commission. Most unfortunate. This goes against the principles of natural justice. At this hour we are strongly with @arvindkejriwal and his team.”

7. AAP approaches Delhi High Court

The AAP meanwhile approached the Delhi High Court in a bid to stave off the impending action against its MLAs but the court refused any relief saying there was no Commission order and it cannot act on media reports. The matter will come up again on Monday.

8. President Kovind is bound to act in accordance with the poll panel's recommendation. There was no official word from the poll panel. But sources said the Commission's recommendation had been sent to Kovind.

9. What next?

The move will pave the way for by-polls in Delhi for 20 constituencies of the 70-member assembly. The AAP at present has officially 66 members in the House although some have turned dissidents. The other four seats are held by the BJP.

Even if 20 MLAs are disqualified, the ruling party will still have a comfortable majority in the Delhi Assembly. But by-elections, if called, will put to test Kejriwal's grip on Delhi.

10. List of 20 AAP legislators who face office of profit

Kailash Gahlot: Najafgarh legislator Kailash Gahlot was appointed as parliamentary secretary to ministry of law.

Naresh Yadav: Mehrauli legislator Naresh Yadav was appointed as parliamentary secretary to labour ministry.

Som Dutt: Sadar Bazar legislator Som Dutt was appointed as parliamentary secretary to industries ministry.

Praveen Kumar: Jangpura legislator Praveen Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to education ministry.

Nitin Tyagi: Laxmi Nagar legislator Nitin Tyagi was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to Ministry of Women and Child and Social Welfare.

Adarsh Shastri: Dwarka legislator Adarsh Shastri was appointed as parliamentary secretary to information and technology ministry.

Sanjeev Jha: Burari legislator Sanjeev Jha was appointed as parliamentary secretary to transport ministry.

Jarnail Singh: Tilak Nagar legislator Jarnail Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the Development Ministry.

Sukhvir Singh: Mundka legislator Sukhvir Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the ministry of languages and welfare of SC/ST/OBC.

Madan Lal: Kasturba Nagar legislator Madan Lal was appointed as parliamentary secretary to vigilance ministry.

Sarita Singh: Rohtas Nagar legislator Sarita Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to employment ministry.

Alka Lamba: Chandni Chowk legislator Alka Lamba was appointed as parliamentary secretary to ministry of tourism.

Rajesh Rishi: Janakpuri legislator Rajesh Rishi was appointed as parliamentary secretary to health ministry.

Anil Kumar Bajpai: Gandhi Nagar legislator Anil Kumar Bajpai was appointed as parliamentary secretary to health ministry.

Manoj Kumar: Kondli legislator Manoj Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to ministry of food and civil supplies.

Avtar Singh: Kalkaji legislator Avtar Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to ministry of gurdwara elections.

Vijendar Garg Vijay: Rajinder Nagar legislator Vijendar Garg Vijay was appointed as parliamentary secretary to ministry of PWD. 

Rajesh Gupta: Wazirpur legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to health ministry.

Sharad Kumar: Narela legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to revenue ministry.

Shiv Charan Goel: Moti Nagar legislator Shiv Charan Goel was appointed was appointed as parliamentary secretary to finance ministry.

The panel last year in October issued a notice to the AAP MLAs seeking an explanation after rejecting their pleas to drop the 'office of profit' case against them.

In March 2015, the AAP government passed an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, to exempt the posts of Parliamentary Secretary from the definition of office of profit with retrospective effect.

But then President Mukherjee refused to give assent, following which the appointments were set aside by the Delhi High Court in September 2016, declaring them illegal since the order had been passed "without concurrence/approval of the Lt Governor".