Delhi Assembly to meet on May 18

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Delhi cabinet today decided to call a special sitting of the state Assembly on May 18 to take up legislation to protect 19 Congress MLAs who were served notices by the Election Commission on the office of profit issue.

The cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, decided to recommend the session in view of the EC notice, official sources said.

In a move that threatens to reduce the Dikshit government to a minority, the Election Commission had issued notices to 19 MLAs of Delhi on the office of profit issue.

The notices, issued through Commission Secretary K F Wilfred, asked the MLAs to answer the allegation that they were fit for disqualification under Section 146 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. They have been asked to reply on or before May 22.

The notices were issued on a complaint by BJP legislator Vijay Jolly who had submitted documents to press the charge.

The BJP has strongly objected to the decision to convene the short session, saying many issues of concern to the people will go unaddressed because of the Government move.

According to leader of the opposition Jagdish Mukhi, the party will submit another memorandum to the EC, complaining against a dozen other Congress MLAs holding offices of profit.

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