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AAP Defections Spur Legal Battle as Bengal Poll Violence Triggers EC Action

Legal experts say the two-thirds merger rule could shield the seven MPs from disqualification.

Overview

  • Violence in Jagatdal in North 24 Parganas on Sunday night, hours before a planned Modi rally, saw crude bombs and gunfire and left a CAPF jawan wounded in the leg.
  • The Election Commission on Monday told West Bengal Police to identify and arrest those involved and to step up patrols ahead of Wednesday’s second phase of voting.
  • AAP MP Sanjay Singh said Sunday he filed a petition to Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan seeking to disqualify seven colleagues who announced a switch to the BJP on Friday.
  • The seven MPs argue their move is a lawful merger under India’s anti-defection law, which allows two-thirds of a party’s legislators to join another party without losing their seats, and AAP had 10 members in the Rajya Sabha.
  • Protests outside Raghav Chadha’s Mumbai home on Monday led police to detain demonstrators and file an FIR against eight AAP leaders, reflecting how the dispute has spilled into the streets.