New Delhi, January 21: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which came into the power of Delhi to eradicate corruption, itself dipped into the dark world of corruption. Notably, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday disqualified 20 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party after found guilty of holding an 'office of profit'.
Notably, President Ram Nath Kovind has approved the recommendation of Election Commission to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs in Office of Profit case. In its opinion sent to President Ram Nath Kovind, the Election Commission said by being parliamentary secretaries, they held the office of profit and were liable to be disqualified as MLAs of the Delhi Assembly.
Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had made the said appointments in March 2015, a month after forming his government in the national capital. For these appointments, his government had passed an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, in June 2015.
The amendment exempted the post of parliamentary secretary from the definition of office of profit with retrospective effect. The party’s efforts, however, got a jolt when the then President Pranab Mukherjee declined approval to the proposed amendment in June 2016 and the Delhi High Court set aside the order appointing the MLAs as parliamentary secretaries.
The Delhi High Court bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had passed the order after the counsel appearing for Delhi government “conceded” that March 13, 2015, order was issued without taking concurrence or views of Lieutenant Governor.
The move of President Ram Nath Kovind had lead to a mini Assembly election in Delhi. Despite the disqualification of 20 MLAs, the Arvind Kejriwal party is still in majority in the Delhi Assembly.
Here's the complete list Of 20 AAP legislators who face disqualification:
- Kailash Gahlot: Najafgarh legislator Kailash Gahlot was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of law.
- Naresh Yadav: Mehrauli legislator Naresh Yadav was appointed as parliamentary secretary to labour minister.
- Som Dutt: Sadar Bazar legislator Som Dutt was appointed as parliamentary secretary to industries minister.
- Praveen Kumar: Jangpura legislator Praveen Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the education minister.
- Nitin Tyagi: Laxmi Nagar legislator Nitin Tyagi was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Women and Child and Social Welfare.
- Adarsh Shastri: Dwarka legislator Adarsh Shastri was appointed as parliamentary secretary to information and technology minister.
- Sanjeev Jha: Burari legislator Sanjeev Jha was appointed as parliamentary secretary to transport minister.
- Jarnail Singh: Tilak Nagar legislator Jarnail Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the Development Minister.
- Sukhvir Singh: Mundka legislator Sukhvir Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of languages and welfare of SC/ST/OBC.
- Madan Lal: Kasturba Nagar legislator Madan Lal was appointed as parliamentary secretary to vigilance minister.
- Sarita Singh: Rohtas Nagar legislator Sarita Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to employment minister.
- Alka Lamba: Chandni Chowk legislator Alka Lamba was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of tourism.
- Rajesh Rishi: Janakpuri legislator Rajesh Rishi was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.
- Anil Kumar Bajpai: Gandhi Nagar legislator Anil Kumar Bajpai was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.
- Manoj Kumar: Kondli legislator Manoj Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of food and civil supplies.
- Avtar Singh: Kalkaji legislator Avtar Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of gurdwara elections.
- Vijendar Garg Vijay: Rajinder Nagar legislator Vijendar Garg Vijay was appointed as parliamentary secretary to minister of PWD.
- Rajesh Gupta: Wazirpur legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.
- Sharad Kumar: Narela legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to revenue minister.
- Shiv Charan Goel: Moti Nagar legislator Shiv Charan Goel was appointed was appointed as parliamentary secretary to finance minister.