Delhi BJP seek disqualification of 11 AAP MLAs occupying 'office of profit'

The Delhi BJP has written to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding the disqualification of 11 AAP MLAs who are allegedly occupying offices of profit, but the Delhi government maintained the posts were exempt.

The party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari told a press conference that these MLAs were appointed as co-chairpersons of District Disaster Management Committees on April 2015.

These appointments were in contravention of Section 14, 25, 2(h) of the Disaster Management Act of the Delhi government under which only municipal councillors are lawfully eligible for the posts, he said.

However, a senior Delhi government official said Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, through a notification dated January 19, 2015, had made it clear that both councillors and MLAs could be appointed as co-chairpersons.

"So the basic premise of BJP's argument is wrong. The gazette notification of the revenue department issued in the Lt Governor's name had made it clear," the official said.

The names of around six of the MLAs listed by Tiwari also figure among the 21 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries by the government. The Election Commission is currently seized of the matter.

"We have written to the President as the law is very clear which merits their disqualification. We are also aware that Arvind Kejriwal will not pay heed to our demands but he will have to abide by the Constitution," he told reporters.

Under the concept of office-of-profit, lawmakers at the central and state level are restricted from accepting government positions, except those declared exempt, and any violation attracts disqualification.

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi took on the AAP over its sharp reaction to the State Election Commission's order to cover the word "aam" in all forms of display.

"The word 'aam' will have to be reclaimed from a party that has all sorts of corrupt elements. They attack every constitutional body. It seems AAP has a persecution complex," Ilmi said.