The Delhi ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday moved to the Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, seeking disqualification of its two MLAs who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in a run-up to the national elections, party Spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told media.
The two Lawmakers – Anil Bajpai from Gandhi Nagar and Devinder Sehrawat from Bijwasan – had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on May 3 and May 6 respectively. Speaking to media, Bajpai claimed that he is hurt by lack of respect and slammed party for distracting from the original path.
While Sehrawat had become a strong critic of the party and was suspended from the party in 2016 citing anti-party activities.
A Notice has been issued to both the Lawmakers who shifted to BJP, confirmed Delhi Assembly Speaker. Goel said, ‘A notice has been issued to both the MLAs under the anti-defection Law and both have to respond on that by June 24’.
READ: Lok Sabha Polls: After Anil Bajpai, AAP rebel MLA Colonel Devinder Singh Sehrawat joins BJP in Delhi
AAP Spokesperson Bhardwaj further said that the party has moved a petition against the rebel MLAs in a bid to disqualify them from the Delhi assembly.
The latest development comes months ahead of the Assembly polls in Delhi.
Responding to the development Sehrawat said he had received a notice from the Assembly speaker, while Anil Bajpai claimed that AAP’s petition has no merit as the case of the office of profit against him is still sub-judice.
Talking to media, Sehrawat said that he has not received any notice from AAP. However, he claimed that he has not taken the BJP’s membership. ‘Even on the BJP dais, I had said that I have not taken the party membership. There is a due process before seeking my disqualification’, said Anil Bajpai as quoted by NDTV.
Further said, both the then MPs of BJP – Kirti Azad and Shatrughan Sinha – openly campaigned for AAP despite being members of BJP, on what basis AAP is seeking his disqualification from Delhi Assembly.