AAP writes to RS president demanding disqualification of MPs who switch to BJP

New Delhi: Even as the breakaway faction among AAP MPs claims that they have legally cemented their position by merging two-thirds of the party members in the Upper House with the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday announced that they will write to Lok Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan seeking the disqualification of seven party members who crossed the line a day ago.chief minister of punjab Bhagwant Mann President Droupadi Murmu was also sought for time to hold a meeting with party MPs to “recall” seven MPs. Incidentally, the Constitution does not provide for a “power of removal” of MPs or MLAs, guaranteeing them a fixed term of office.Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney’s move is ‘unconstitutional and illegal’, AAP Sanjay Singh, leader of the Rajya Sabha, stressed that “the anti-defection law clearly stipulates that no form of secession will be tolerated in the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha”. It has no legal recognition and this was also clearly established in the Shiv Sena case.“However, most legal experts, barring Kapil Sibal, unanimously stressed that the Tenth Schedule cannot prevent political defections while getting the ‘merger’ scale and said AAP MPs joining the BJP will not violate the anti-defection law, which allows two-thirds of the legislators of a party in the Legislature to break away and merge with another party.Sanjay Singh, however, citing the Tenth Schedule, said it clearly states that any form of secession, even involving a two-thirds majority or an increase from seven to eight members, has no legal effect.“Therefore, the defection of these seven members of the House of Federation from the AAP is completely illegal, incorrect, unconstitutional and in violation of the rules of parliament,” he said, adding that he would submit a letter to the Chairman of the House of Federation, citing all these rules, demanding the complete termination of the membership of all seven members.Meanwhile, the Press Trust news agency on Saturday quoted Chadha as reaffirming his position as saying those who quit the party were not out of fear but because of growing “disillusionment, disengagement and disgust” with the existing leadership.Sources within the party said that the AAP leadership was aware of the fact that the BJP had approached the party MPs over the past few days. AAP top brass made some last-ditch efforts to prevent at least two legislators from defecting to the BJP.Apart from rumors that MPs like Mittal are defecting to the BJP allegedly under pressure from the ED case, the development also highlights organizational challenges within the AAP.For example, dissatisfaction has been growing not just in Chadha but also in Pathak. Both played a vital role in ticket distribution in Punjab and paved the way for victory in the state. However, sources said Pathak faced gradual marginalization after the party’s defeat in the Delhi polls.Speaking to TOI, Vikramjit Sahney said one of the reasons for his decision was growing disillusionment with the functioning of the state government, with Punjab facing dire crises – from rising debt of over Rs 450 crore to an agricultural crisis, no agro-processing, drug menace and slow implementation of projects. “Some of us MPs also find the leadership inaccessible, especially Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is unapproachable and not receptive to suggestions,” he claimed.