The move of Election Commission of India (ECI) to disqualify 20 legislators of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi for allegedly holding the office of profit as parliamentary secretaries has set the stage for fresh political battle. AAP alleged that it is a political conspiracy and is expected to move SC for the relief. Congress and BJP, sensing opportunity, are training gun on Arvind Kejriwal and seeking his resignation from the Chief Minister’s post. The battle is expected get uglier as 2019 general election looms large. All parties will try to take maximum benefit out of the move to disqualify AAP MLAs.
In Arunachal too, a PIL has been filed seeking disqualification of the parliamentary secretaries. The matter is being taken up in high court and hopefully judgment comes at the earliest. Parliamentary secretaries, chairmen and vice chairmen are all burden on the state exchequer. Govt should do away with these posts. For a fund crunch state like ours these posts are big liability. Government of Arunachal should voluntarily remove the post of parliamentary secretary and should not wait for the high court to pass order in this regard. Removal of these posts will help to save money which can be used for the developmental projects.