In a major blow to the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday accepted an Election Commission recommendation to disqualify 20 of its MLAs for holding offices of profit.
The Election Commission on Friday had recommended their disqualification on the grounds that they held offices of profit as they were parliamentary secretaries. The AAP had on Saturday alleged that the EC was acting at the behest of the BJP and had denied its legislators a chance to present their case.
With the President clearing their disqualification, the 20 MLAs could have a long legal battle; the Delhi High Court will hear an appeal on the issue on Monday.
While there is no immediate risk to the stability of the AAP government as it still holds 45 seats in the 70-member Assembly, the high likelihood of bypolls for the 20 seats—which have to be held in six months—will unnerve Arvind Kejriwal's party.
