Office of profit: EC gets tough with MP, MLAs

TNN / Jun 14, 2006, 00:01 IST

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The EC has asked 19 MLAs and 1 MP, who had sought time for filing their replies on showcause notices, to give final replies by June 21 or face action.

Office of profit: EC gets tough with MP, MLAs

NEW DELHI: Trouble is brewing for the Congress government in Delhi over the office of profit issue. The Election Commission has asked 19 MLAs and 1 MP, who had sought more time for filing their replies on showcause notices, to give final replies by June 21 or face action.
With this notice, Delhi government would have to swing into action to save the candidature of 19 MLAs.Congress holds 47 of 70 seats in Delhi Assembly. BJP has 20 seats and there are 3 independent MLAs.
If 19 MLAs face disqualification, the ruling Delhi Congress would be reduced to an embarrassing minority.
The 19 MLAs and Congress MP Sajjan Kumar had been served showcause notices on May 2 after a representation by BJP MLA Vijay Jolly before the President over the office of profit issue.

They were given time till May 22. In a bid to save the candidature of the MLAs, the Congress government called a special session on May 18 and passed a bill on the office of profit issue. Meanwhile, the MLAs sought time from the Election Commission (EC) in the hope that the President will give assent.
The President, however, returned the Centre's Bill. The Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006 has been lying in the law ministry for approval.
The issue, however, may get the Congress government in trouble as the MLAs will now have to justify their positions before June 21.
The MLAs facing the EC's wrath include Naseeb Singh, Narendra Nath, Anjali Rai, Mateen Ahmad, Rajesh Jain, Prahlad Singh Sawhney, Braham Pal, Ambrish Gautam, Rajesh Lilothia, Bijender Singh, Balram Tanwar, Kiran Walia, Ashok Ahuja, Tajdar Babar, Vijay Lochav, Mahabal Mishra, Kanwar Karan Singh, Veer Singh Dhingan and Bheesham Sharma.

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