The contender for the post of Delhi Chief Secretary Parimal Rai has pulled out of the race. He was the candidate backed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal instead of Shakuntala Gamlin who was appointed by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
The confrontation between Delhi’s Lt Governor and the AAP government intensified after Gamlin took charge as acting Chief Secretary of the Delhi government.
Gamlin took over inspite of objections from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who asked her not to take charge. This comes a day after she was appointed to the post by Jung.
A senior Delhi government official said that in his letter to Gamlin, Kejriwal has said that her appointment is against the set rule. In view of this, she should not take charge as acting Chief Secretary of Delhi.
Hours after receiving the letter, she wrote a scathing one herself to Jung claiming that she was pressurised by a senior bureaucrat in the CM’s office not to be in the race for the post due to her alleged proximity to BSES discoms.
The “BJP Coup” Theory
But that is not all. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the BJP was attempting to carry out a “coup” against it through Najeeb Jung.
The BJP through L-G of Delhi has attempted a coup against the democratically elected government of Delhi with the highest ever mandate in the history of the state.
– Manish Sisodia, Delhi Deputy CM
Sisodia said, “The constitution, GNCT act of Delhi and Transaction of Business Rules clearly defines what the L-G can do. In case of a dispute or difference of opinion between L-G and council of ministers, L-G could have called the minister concerned to discuss the matter”.
“Even after that, if the council of ministers disagreed he could have referred the matter to the President and his advice could have been conveyed to the council of ministers,” the deputy Chief Minister said.
Calling the L-G’s move an act “against the constitution”, Sisodia declared, “I was not informed by the L-G and he does not have the power to issue direct instructions to officers. He has clearly acted against the constitution and laws relevant to Delhi.”
Jung had promptly rebutted the AAP government’s allegations, stating that under Article 239 AA of the Constitution of India, the Lt Governor is the representative of State Authority in Delhi.
Chief Secretary KK Sharma has left for the US on a personal visit due to which the government had to appoint an acting Chief Secretary. Gamlin is currently serving as Power Secretary.
(With inputs from PTI)