"Cancel membership of AAP MPs who joined BJP": Bhagwant Mann after meeting President Murmu
New Delhi [India], May 5 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday urged President Droupadi Murmu to cancel the membership of seven Rajya Sabha MPs who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to mediapersons after calling on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mann said that the merger is "unconstitutional" and a blatant violation of democratic principles.
He also questioned the legality of such actions and suggested that those dissatisfied with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) should resign and contest elections independently.
"...7 out of 10 of our MPs cannot just get up and say they are going to merge with another party. There is no such law and they cannot do whatever comes to their mind. The country runs according to the law...If they disliked the Aam Aadmi Party so much, they should have resigned. After resigning, they could have been elected from anywhere...I told the President how democracy is currently being made a mockery of in Punjab...BJP has just two MLAs but it has suddenly gained six Rajya Sabha MPs.Their membership should be revoked...If there is no provision for recall, then bring an amendment," Mann told reporters.
With the merger, the BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha increased to 113 seats. This major shift has dealt a significant blow to the AAP, which now finds itself reduced to just three members in the Upper House.
Addressing a press conference shortly after his meeting with President Murmu, he accused the Punjab government of hiring agencies and threatening all seven former AAP MPs by using state funds.
"There should be a law; otherwise, five people from a party will claim that they are a different party. Can someone be above the law after joining the BJP? The law is supreme. I will inform the President and apprise her about everything," CM Mann told reporters ahead of his meeting with the President. (ANI)
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