Page 24 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

column

End of sit-in at LG’s office

brings temporary relief

Calling off the nine-day protest by Kejriwal may not resolve the legislative
Hard or constitutional issues faced by the AAP government in implementing
its decision and policies
LIne

Anil Singh ith the calling off nine- reporting to Kejriwal and his ministers.
day sit-in at the Lieuten- The AAP government’s demand for full
ant Governor’s office statehood for Delhi is unlikely to get any
The columnist is by Delhi Chief Minister support from the Union Government in
Executive Editor of W Arvind Kejriwal on June the near future.
News24 news 19 and the IAS officers’ decision to start Describing Kejriwal as a “harried
channel. The views attending meetings convened by AAP leader” and “the odd man out in politics”,
here expressed are the ministers, the people of Delhi heaved a some experts opine that he has been
author’s own sigh of relief in the wake of uncertainty through a difficult grind ever since he
over “governance paralysis.” Sit-in, dhar- assumed power in 2015. Evidently, elected
nas and protests by the AAP government, government in the National Capital is not
since it came to power in Delhi with getting enough of cooperation from the
unprecedented majority in 2015, have Union Government and this situation is
been its frequent defining features in the attributed by some experts to the reason
wake of power tussle between the Central that Kejriwal often asserted his rights as
Government led by the BJP and the AAP CM or rubbed the rival BJP the wrong way.
government on one or the other issue be- While commenting on the role of the LG
cause of Delhi’s unique legislative status. of Delhi in dealing with the AAP govern-
Constitutional experts feel that Delhi’s ment, one critic has pointed out that far
unique legislative structure is a major from playing the role of a quiet friend,
point of contention. As compared to other a guide and guardian, in the case of the
states, where the elected state govern- elected government of Delhi, the LG’s of-
ment enjoys complete autonomy, elected fice has indulged in delays, disruption and
Sit-in, dharnas government in Delhi finds its powers sabotage of the work of elected govern-
severely curtailed in presence of the office ment and witch-hunt of its functionaries.
and protests of the lieutenant-governor (LG), a political
by the AAP appointee of the federal government. AAP’s non-performance
According to some critics, the present
The AAP government’s grouse against
government have dispensation at the Centre had begun senior bureaucrats is that instead of
been its frequent to whittle away at the “limited powers” reporting to the government’s ministers,
enjoyed by the AAP government since it
they report to the federal government and
defining feature assumed office in 2015. this prevents the elected state govern-
The office of the LG is often adorned
in the wake of by officials loyal to the federal regime. ment from carrying out its agenda. Ke-
jriwal has claimed that bureaucrats have
power tussle Besides, immense powers are vested in been stonewalling all major initiatives of
between the LG. According to some media reports, the his government since February this year.
As per media reports, Kejriwal accuses the
federal government has made it clear
Centre and the that the bureaucrats of Delhi government LG and the Central government of being
AAP because of must report to the state government behind the moves by civil servants. The
LG, on the other hand maintains that he
through the office of the LG and this has
Delhi’s unique been the main contention of Kejriwal has no power over Kejriwal and his min-
isters’ relationships with the bureaucracy,
government that bureaucrats don’t listen
legislative status to its directions. Meanwhile, bureaucrats which have soured since an ugly confron-
have been citing different reasons for not tation between the state cabinet and the

tehelka / 15 july 2018 24 www.tehelka.com

24-25 Column Anil Singh.indd 2 03/07/18 3:46 PM