Reacting to the reports that the Election Commission (EC) had recommended disqualification of 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, the Congress on Friday demanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation on moral grounds.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken said his party will launch a “Jan Andolan” from January 22 demanding Kejriwal government’s removal.
“Where is Lokpal? The MLAs and ministers enjoying perks of power and foreign travel — Where is political probity?” he tweeted earlier in the day.
The Congress had filed a petition with the EC in June 2016 seeking the disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for holding offices of profit as they had been appointed parliamentary secretaries to Ministers, said Mr. Maken.
Since then, one of the MLAs, Jarnail Singh of Rajouri Garden constituency, resigned to contest the Punjab Assembly elections.
“The EC has given them a lot of opportunities, heard many petitions. There is no way that these 20 MLAs can escape disqualification. Their appointment letters said they would get offices, staff and cars,” said Mr. Maken.
He said the Congress would launch a campaign against the AAP government, starting with a demonstration outside the Delhi Secretariat on January 22.
Cite Sonia’s example
Mr. Maken asked why the MLAs “were scared of resigning”, citing the example of then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who resigned from her Lok Sabha seat in March 2006 when she was accused of holding an office of profit.
“She did not wait for the EC to act. She resigned and stood for elections again and won with a thumping majority. Why don’t the AAP MLAs resign? What are they afraid of,” asked Mr. Maken.
He added that rules permit the Chief Minister to appoint one parliamentary secretary for himself or herself, not for Ministers.
The Kejriwal government had in 2015 appointed three parliamentary secretaries for each minister.
Bypoll ready
Mr. Maken said the EC should decide the matter soon as it has already delayed a decision on their complaint against the AAP legislators.
He said, the Delhi Congress was ready for polls and had held a meeting with its former MLAs representing the 20 seats to gear up for fresh elections.
