Maken meets EC, demands disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs

A Congress delegation today met the Chief Election Commissioner and asked him to recommend to the President "immediate disqualification" of 21 AAP MLAs holding "office of profit" by working as Parliamentary secretaries to the state government ministers.
Leading the delegation, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said that it would be "unethical" if these 21 MLAs are allowed to attend the two day special session of Delhi Assembly which started today.
The MLAs holding the posts of Parliamentary secretaries to the AAP government ministers should be immediately disqualified for holding office of profit as they have been given "cars and office rooms", he said.

"It has been clearly stated in the NCT of Delhi Act, 1991 that if any MLA, other than the ministers, holds any office of profit in Delhi government, the MLA concerned would invite disqualification of the membership of the Assembly."
Maken said "the Supreme Court in its judgement in Jaya Bachhan vs Union of India case has also ruled the office of profit implies even if the holder of the post chooses not to receive the emoluments he or she is entitled to."
He claimed the 21 AAP MLAs were not only enjoying benefits of the Parliamentary secretary post but were also "influencing" the decisions.

"The 21 Parliamentary secretaries were given government vehicles and office rooms in violation of norms and rules. These MLAs were not only doing administrative works in the ministers' offices, but they were also influencing the decisions," he alleged.
The party delegation included AICC in-charge of Delhi unit of Congress, P C Chacko, chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee, AICC Legal cell secretary K C Mittal and Chattar Singh.