New Delhi: As the tussle between Arvind Kejriwal (and the Aam Aadmi Party), and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung becomes murkier by the day, in the ongoing two-day Delhi Assembly proceedings, AAP has moved a resolution to impeach Jung.
In the middle of a bitter turf war in Delhi, its assembly on Tuesday began a two-day “emergency session” in which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are expected to debate and reject the Centre’s stand that the state government has limited powers.
A house dominated by AAP lawmakers – 67 of 70 members belong to the ruling party – is discussing a notification by the Centre that escalated the power struggle between the Kejriwal government and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. The notification on Friday asserted that the Lieutenant Governor, who is a representative of the Central government in Delhi, is not obliged to consult the state government on key appointments.
There has been a move to impeach Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung which was discussed in the assembly.
AAP insists that an elected government cannot be overlooked in key decisions even though Delhi is not a full state and some powers are vested with the Lieutenant Governor. Kejriwal alleges that the BJP, which rules the Centre, is trying to control Delhi with three legislators.
A High Court ruling yesterday backed the AAP government stand and said that the Lieutenant Governor is “bound to act upon the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.”
Encouraged by the court ruling, the Kejriwal government last evening transferred or reassigned nine bureaucrats, as a reward for their suggestions to improve the supply of water and power in summer.
Kejriwal also met the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday and reportedly discussed the powers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The court has said that it will report to the Delhi government.
AAPÂ has been on the warpath since the Lieutenant Governor appointed an officer as acting chief secretary, allegedly without consulting the Chief Minister. Kejriwal reacted by removing the officer who signed off on Mr Jung’s decision and filling key posts with his preferred candidates.
Yesterday, AAP marked its 100 days in office with a massive “public cabinet” in a central Delhi park where Kejriwal declared that he would “take back powers from the Centre in this term.”