A DAY after the President gave his assent to the Election Commission’s recommendation to disqualify 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs for holding office of profit, six of the MLAs Monday withdrew their petition in the High Court seeking a stay on the move. On Friday, hours after the EC recommended that the MLAs be disqualified, the six had sought an immediate stay on the order. The High Court had, however, declined to pass any interim order and fixed the matter for hearing on Monday. But soon after the EC counsel Monday submitted to Justice Rekha Palli that communication for disqualification was sent to the MLAs on January 19, the MLAs withdrew their petition. A counsel representing AAP said that the applications have now become "infructuous in the wake of Presidential notification on the disqualification". The High Court, however, kept the main petitions — wherein 20 AAP MLAs had challenged the maintainability of the EC proceedings — pending for March 20. The AAP MLAs' counsel sought time to go through the EC recommendations and Presidential order. Party sources added that it was likely to submit a revised plea in High Court Wednesday. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “We are hopeful that the judiciary will scrutinise the biased order. In the past, in states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the judiciary has struck down biased orders of the EC, which went against the natural principles of justice.” READ | Office of profit: What & the why Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday released an open letter to Delhi, which is being promoted and circulated via social media. The letter, which gives a detailed explanation on the legislators who had been parliamentary secretaries from March 2015 to September 2016, asks whether “is it justified to remove elected lawmakers in this unconstitutional manner? Isn't it dirty politics?” The letter also states, “We had given these legislators different responsibilities. like looking after schools or hospitals. they were not given any official car or house, and not even a paisa as salary. How is it an office of profit then?” READ | President acts on EC's opinion, orders disqualification of 20 AAP Delhi MLAs Setting the tone for the party as it approaches the judiciary and prepares for bypolls in the capital, the letter, addressed to the residents of Delhi, maintained: "I have faith in you. You will give a fitting and effective reply.” While claiming that the BJP is “worried, scared about the speed at which the Kejriwal government is working”, Sisodia detailed its achievements in the past three years. The AAP has also started preparing for agitations across the capital, where the party will take up two issues — the ongoing sealing drive and the inclusion of FDI.
