President Ram Nath Kovind leaves Delhi with AK - 46, bypolls in six months likely

New Delhi : With President Ram Nath Kovind not entertaining Aam Aadmi Party's request to hear their stand over the disqualification of 20 MLAs by the Election Commission, Delhi has been left with Arvind Kejriwal and his 46 MLAs, triggering calls for mini bypolls on the vacated seats.

The Aam Aadmi Party has now moved to Delhi High Court with hopes to get something positive in the matter that will be heard on Monday (January 22).

If the court also rules against the MLAs then swift formalities by MHA might bring bypolls even sooner than six months.

The disqualification order, which was signed by the President on January 20, noted that in the light of the opinion expressed by the Election Commission, 20 members of the Delhi legislative assembly were disqualified.

"Having considered the matter in the light of the opinion expressed by the Election Commission, I, Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, in exercise of the powers... do here hold that the aforesaid 20 members of the Delhi legislative assembly stand disqualified from being members of the said assembly," the notification said.

Aam Aadmi Party will retain government in Delhi despite disqualification of 20 MLAs as it had won 67 seats and removing 20 will still keep them in majority.