Arvind Kejriwal not an 'outsider', can contest Delhi assembly polls: EC

New Delhi: In a big relief for Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, the Election Commission late on Monday said that he is an elector of Delhi which qualifies him to be a candidate for the upcoming Assembly polls here.

Citing the Representation of the People's Act(RPA), Election Commission sources said that the matter was settled on the day of scrutiny itself by the Returning Officer who rejected a plea by Congress candidate Kiran Walia that the papers of the former Delhi Chief Minister be rejected over allegations of change in his residential address.

The sources said that under the RPA Act Kejriwal is an elector of Delhi and can contest the Assembly elections scheduled for February 7.

The EC stand came even as Delhi High Court sought the response of Kejriwal on Walia's plea for cancelling his candidature in the upcoming poll for "illegally" declaring himself as a resident of the national capital by changing his residential address.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru also issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Chief Electoral Officer and others seeking their replies by Wednesday on the plea of Walia who is his rival from New Delhi assembly constituency.

With PTI input