MLAs from Arvind Kejriwal's AAP have been questioned about holding offices of profit. (PTI)
In new trouble for Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party, the Election Commission has asked 27 of its Delhi lawmakers to explain why they should not be disqualified for holding offices of profit.
Among the 27 are 10 lawmakers already being scanned by the Election Commission for holding posts of parliamentary secretaries in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office. Elected members cannot hold offices of profit under the Constitution. The 27 lawmakers have been asked to respond by Nov 11.
The new communication from the poll panel is for AAP lawmakers who hold posts in Mohalla Clinics, the Arvind Kejriwal government's affordable healthcare project, which a petitioner has alleged are offices of profit.
The petition was filed in June and forwarded by President Pranab Mukherjee to the Election Commission earlier this month.
The latest list includes the Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.
In June this year, the President had refused to okay a Delhi government Bill that sought to amend the law on office of profit. It was then left to the Election Commission to decide whether the 21 lawmakers who serve as parliamentary secretaries should be disqualified. The bill had sought to exclude the post of parliamentary secretaries from an office of profit list.
The Aam Aadmi Party had swept the Delhi elections last year, winning 67 of 70 seats. The BJP had won just two.