AAP terms controversy over its MLAs a 'political ploy'

Statement comes even as Congress joins BJP in stepping up demand for disqualification of 21 AAP legislators

The Congress on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in stepping up its demand for disqualification of 21 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal government as parliamentary secretaries. AAP termed the presidential refusal to give assent to a Bill to shield the legislators from the office of profit rule as "purely political".

Congress and BJP are AAP's principal rivals not just in Delhi but also in states like Goa and Punjab, which are due for Assembly polls by February 2017. In both these states, but particularly Punjab, AAP is emerging as a strong contender