New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi completes 100 days in office but the power struggle between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung rages on over the appointments, postings and transfers of senior IAS officers. Despite popular measures like reducing electricity tariffs by half, 20,000 litres of free water per household, halting demolitions in unauthorised colonies, compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers, the first 100 days of the AAP government has been tumultuous and marked by controversies.
The Kejriwal government has called a two-day emergency session of the state assembly from May 26 to discuss the Home Ministry's notification which in no uncertain terms backed the Lt Governor's absolute authority to appoint bureaucrats. Sources said the Assembly is likely to pass a resolution terming the notification unconstitutional.
On February 10, Kejriwal-led AAP to a rare historic mandate getting 67 of the 70 seats in the national capital.
But the overwhelming mandate has not ensured a dream run for the government. Firstly, there was a conflict over jurisdiction of the Delhi Police versus the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the state government with the High Court finally ruled in the latter's favour.
In another controversial move, the AAP government issued a circular giving a go-ahead to ministers and officers to file defamation cases against media houses even as Kejriwal himself fought to decriminalise defamation and obtained a stay from the Supreme Court in various cases against him. The circular was stayed by the apex court.
Kejriwal had then said, "If you see that a particular channel is showing something factually incorrect, then you should raise the issue. There can be a public trial."
Then ensued the fierce and ongoing turf war with the Lt Governor over who has the right to appoint bureaucrats which was sparked by the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary. In an unprecedented move, the Chief Minister openly accused Gamlin of siding with power companies in a public meeting
The tussle also saw the AAP government stripping Principal Secretary (Services) Anindo Majumdar of his duties and locking his office because he issued Gamlin's appointment order. The Centre finally stepped in and issued a controversial notification giving the Lt Governor full powers to appoint bureaucrats and also curbing the powers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Kejriwal openly accused the Lt Governor of acting on orders of the Centre..
Fighting corruption remains high on Kejriwal's agenda as the government has initiated popular decisions like setting up an anti-corruption helpline. The ACB has arrested 36 officials and suspended 152 others.
AAP's tenure has invited more controversy than congratulations in the first 100 days but Kejriwal has been able ble to deliver on some key promises even when locked in high pitched battles.
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