While the recent High Court judgment settling the long-drawn battle “between the selected and the elected” is being seen as a severe setback for the AAP-ruled Delhi Government, it may be a silver lining for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), especially if one considers the way the AAP has played its cards ever since coming to power.
With the High Court establishing that Delhi continues to be a Union Territory under the administrative control of the lieutenant-Governor, it may give Kejriwal and his party even more ammunition to target lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung for stopping his Government from taking “people friendly” decisions.
Not only that, the High Court verdict that theoretically renders Assembly elections in Delhi a somewhat futile exercise may serve as a rallying point for those fighting for full Statehood for Delhi, with Kejriwal leading from the front.
The AAP leaders havesuccessfully shifted the blame on the Union Government and the l-G that aam aadmi will suffer in the wake of the High Court verdict.
In an indication of things to come, AAP leaders held a Press conference on Friday, a day after the High Court verdict, where it said the people of the national Capital can approach l-G Jung if they have any issue with civic amenities as powers have now been vested in his hands.
“Contrary to the perception that the recent High Court order giving supremacy to the l-G in administrative affairs in the national Capital will go against the AAP Government, it is working on a way out with party legislators telling people in their respective constituencies that they should get their works done by Raj Niwas as they had been rendered toothless by the court verdict,” said a senior functionary of the AAP Government.
Such statements from AAP leaders may convince people that the Delhi Government is doing its best for the welfare of the people despite interference by the Centre and its representative l-G.
As Delhiites have been upbeat over a series of measures that the Government has taken to deal with their day-to-day hardships, many in the city feel that the verdict has tied the hands of the city Government.
For instance, the Government had said power companies will have to pay fine to consumers for unscheduled power cuts. “Now, we cannot pursue this matter as discoms will no longer listen to us. It is now for the l-G to ensure people are compensated for unscheduled power cuts,” said a south Delhi MlA.
“Since the situation has changed after the High Court judgment, we expect that all the work that the Delhi Government was doing for public good and our battle against corruption will now be carried forward by the l-G with the same commitment and honesty with which the Delhi Government was performing,” AAP’s national spokesperson Ashutosh said.
While “disagreeing” with the view of the High Court, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “If ‘we the people’ have no value, then where will people go if they have already chosen their MlAsIJ To the lt GovernorIJ To the CentreIJ” The party further said since the l-G has the authority now, he should initiate action in the CNG fitness scam, “in which he is an accused himself”.
AAP insiders explained that the AAP leadership will in all possibility play victim in Punjab, Goa and Gujarat where the party is to contest the Assembly elections next year. With the court making it clear that law and order, police, land, financial matters and super scale postings have to have the lieutenant-Governor’s prior approval, the party will highlight this in their election campaign that the Delhi Government had no powers to take any decision for welfare of its citizens.
“We will tell people that we will be able to deliver better in States having full Statehood status than the National Capital Territory of Delhi,'' said a party insider, adding, "With police under our control, we will bring down crime rate in these states. Also, we will be able to act against the corrupt."
Now the court has also made it clear that the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) cannot act against the Central Government employees, said a senior party leader, adding that if a Central Government employee takes bribe in front of the CM, he will land up in a helpless situation as he can do nothing to punish the employee.
Brand AAP is only because the party has been voicing its concerns over growing corruption in the country. A close confidant of a city Minister said if the party was unable to weed out corruption, then it will lose its relevance in the political arena. "Once we get a chance to govern States like Punjab and Gujarat, we will set a benchmark for other States on how administration should be run efficiently. Also, we will set new standards for the overall growth of these States," he said.
According to AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai, since the l-G is running the Government in Delhi, he is morally responsible for all the scams that have been happening in Delhi.
"The line AAP has been taking after the judgment indicates that it may use the HC ruling to corner the l-G on various issues if the l-G fails to deliver what AAP may have also found quite difficult to deliver itself.
Besides, the AAP had made a series of promises before the elections, including WiFi and CCTV across Delhi, Swaraj Bill, Janlokpal Bill, full Statehood for Delhi, halved power bills, discom portability, free water, revival of Yamuna, new schools and colleges etc. While it will be a great service to the people of Delhi if the party is able to successfully deliver on these promises. But in case it fails to deliver on any of them, the party will be able to successfully shift the blame to the Centre and the l-G following the recent development.
It puts AAP in a position where it can claim the glory for taking "people friendly" decisions while forsaking the blame if l-G fails to implement those decisions," said a Delhi politician on the condition of anonymity.