Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has termed President Ram Nath Kovind’s order disqualifying 20 of its MlAs for holding offices of profit “unconstitutional” and “dangerous for democracy”.
The President on Sunday accepted the Election Commission of India’s recommendation to disqualify the 20 AAP MlAs.
Madanlal, one of the 20 disqualified MlAs, said that all hopes now hinge on the judiciary and the party was expecting some relief on Monday.
If AAP fails to get reprieve from the courts, Delhi will have bypolls for the 20 seats.
The only technical aspect was that now the Delhi Assembly Speaker will have to notify the 20 vacancies for the EC to announce the bypolls.
Once the vacancies are announced by the Assembly, the AAP’s strength would go down to 46 from 66 in the 70-member House. However, it will continue to have a majority to run the State.
“We are expecting relief from the court. Our petition is coming up for hearing tomorrow,” Madanlal, who represented the Kasturba Nagar constituency, said.
Alka lamba, who is among the 20 AAP MlAs disqualified, said the decision was “painful” and the President should have heard them out before arriving at any conclusion.