'AAP records in Rajya Sabha altered without prior intimation': Party writes to Upper House, threatens court action

New Delhi: As seven defected MPs were shown as lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha records, AAP floor leader Sanjay Singh on Monday shot off a letter to the Upper House Secretary General seeking clarification on the "unauthorised alteration" of party position in the records without any consultations.

He claimed that the official records were "altered unilaterally without prior intimation or concurrence" of AAP or its floor leader even as he demanded an immediate inquiry into this and furnish a written response at the earliest along with copies of all relevant orders and directions on the basis of which party position of the AAP has been altered.

Separately, Singh also said AAP will approach the court of the MPs are not disqualified under anti-defection law.

His letter came as seven AAP MPs, who last Friday announced that they have quit the party and joined the BJP, were listed as BJP lawmakers on Monday. AAP had on Sunday petitioned Chairman CP Radhakrishnan seeking disqualification of the seven MPs who have claimed that they have merged with the BJP.

The latest records showed that the BJP numbers rose from 106 to 113 while the AAP numbers came down from ten to three.

Singh asked the Secretary General to clarify on what date and on what basis has the party position been altered in the records and which competent authority has approved or sanctioned such alterations along with reasons recorded.

"Is there any written order, direction, office memorandum or any other document authorising such alteration? If so, why has this not been communicated to the AAP or to me in my capacity as the floor leader?" he asked.

"In the absence of any consultation, what procedure was adopted prior to effecting such alteration? What is the current official party position of the AAP as recorded in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, including the number of members shown under the party's name and the floor leader designation?" he said.

Singh warned that "any arbitrary or unexplained alteration in the party position, without following the due procedure would have serious consequences on the rights of the party and its members and raises grave questions of procedural irregularity".