After MCD poll defeat, Arvind Kejriwal faces another test in May, EC decision on AAP 'office of profit' row awaited

After his party's humiliating defeat in Municipal Corporation Elections in Delhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal faces another acid test in May when a decision in a case related to a row over 'office of profit' is likely to come.

New Delhi: After his party's humiliating defeat in the Municipal Corporation Elections in Delhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal faces another crucial test in May when a decision in a case related to a row over 'office of profit' is likely to come.

According to a ToI report, the Election Commission is likely to clear its stand next month on a petition seeking disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for having allegedly violated a law that prevents them from holding an “office of profit”.

AAP, which is currently in power in Delhi, will continue to have a majority even if the EC recommends disqualification of its 21 lawmakers.

In case of an adverse ruling by the poll panel, AAP is likely to move court against it.

But in all likelihood, the disqualification of nearly one-third of AAP MLAs would be a big setback for Arvind Kejriwal particularly at a time when his popularity has sharply declined.

The report also quoted sources as saying that poll panel would have conveyed its response to the President by now if it had not been distracted by the controversy about EVMs. 

The poll watchdog had recently invited AAP and other EVM-sceptics to come and show how can the EVM machines be hacked. 

An EC task force is busy preparing for the challenge and will discuss the modalities with representatives of political parties at a meeting shortly.