Hearing on a petition seeking disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs today

The Election Commission will be hearing on a petition seeking disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for holding the office of Parliamentary Secretaries, alleged to be an office of profit.

On August 19, AAP MLAs reiterated that the EC should consider only the first petition filed by Prashant Patel, who moved the plea before the poll body on which the President had sought an opinion of the Commission.

They said the Commission cannot consider the second set of documents filed by Patel after the President had already sought opinion on the first petition.

They insisted the second set of documents were not maintainable. Patel, however, argued that the second set was not a fresh petition but a response to details sought by the EC.

The MLAs were of the view that EC should have sought the details from Delhi government and not the petitioner.

"Some MLAs said they are not represented by counsels and they should be extended legal aid to hire lawyers. I opposed the move. I said if they produce BPL certificates, then only they can be extended legal aid," Patel later said.

The hearing remained inconclusive and was adjourned until August 29. An earlier date of hearing was not possible as the Delhi assembly is meeting from Monday.