Anil Baijal still top contender, others join fray

New Delhi: A day after Najeeb Jung tendered his resignation, names of several bureaucrats and politicians were doing the rounds in the local political circles on Friday as to who could be the next lieutenant governor of Delhi. While former bureaucrat Anil Baijal, who served as the home secretary under Atal Behari Vajpayee’s NDA regime, continued to be the frontrunner for the post, the other two strong contenders who joined the fray were former bureaucrat and BJP national executive member K .J. Alphons and former Delhi chief secretary D.M. Spolia. Some politicians were also of the opinion that the BJP could also bring in former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who was recently appointed as the lieutenant governor of Puducherry or veteran local politician Jagdish Mukhi, who too was recently appointed as the L-G of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The possibility of former city police chief  B.S. Bassi taking over as the Delhi’s L-G had hardly any takers in the local political circles.

A source said that Mr Alphons, an IAS officer from Kerala, was also a strong contender for Raj Niwas owing to his work as the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority. Known as the “demolition man”, Mr Alphons had brought down a large number of illegal buildings in the national capital.  It is learnt that Mr Spolia, who had played a critical role during former chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s 15-year-long tenure, could also be picked up by the Centre for his vast experience in handling the pressing issues concerning the city.

Mr Spolia not only served as the principal secretary to the CM, but also as urban development secretary, which was responsible for the regularisation of about 1,000-odd colonies in the city.

These colonies play a critical role in deciding the future of the candidates in city polls. Mr Spolia, who retired as the CS of Mr Kejriwal, is also aware of the functioning of the three municipal bodies, which are going to polls in the next year.

A section within the BJP said that there were very few chances that the party could bring back either Ms Bedi or Prof. Mukhi as the two had lost Assembly elections against AAP candidates. A local saffron leader said: “Kiran ji was our chief ministerial candidate. So, how can our party bring her to head the Delhi government, which is run by AAP, which had won 67 of the 70 Assembly seats.”

As far as Prof. Mukhi is concerned, many within the BJP said that he had already completed his innings in politics. “He was the city’s finance minister. He was also the leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. He won several elections. Now, its time that the party promotes some young, but experienced person for the crucial job.”