Maken asks why EC recommendation came after Rajya Sabha polls

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission has helped the Aam Aadmi Party by giving its recommendation to disqualify its 20 MLAs after the AAP nominated its three members to the Rajya Sabha.

Addressing a press conference here, DPCC president Ajay Maken said the case was two years old case.

"Had the EC given its recommendation before the Rajya Sabha election, AAP's three members would not have been elected unopposed. It seems that the EC did this on the direction of the BJP government at centre," Maken said.

Asking what was the Commission was doing between December 22, 2017 and January 19, 2018, Maken said that as per law, the Delhi government could have only seven ministers, while the Chief Minister can have only one Parliamentary Secretary.

The Congress leader added that appointing 21

parliamentary secretaries was illegal as it comprised of office of profit.

He added that a notification issued by the Delhi government on March 5, 2015, had clearly mentioned that these secretaries would be given facilities of government transport for official purposes only and office space in the minister's office to facilitate their works.

Maken said that the Delhi Chief Secretary – in a forty page report submitted to the EC in the office of profit case – had stated that the Delhi Assembly had, on June 16, 2016, conveyed approval of Rs 13.6 lakh to provide 21 executive tables, 21 chairs and 136 visitors chairs for the 21 parliamentary secretaries, of which Rs 11.75 lakh was spent.