New L-G's BJP ties may worry Delhi government

New Delhi: Former Union home secretary Anil Baijal's proximity to top saffron leadership is likely to escalate the acrimonious relationship between Raj Niwas and the AAP government over a host of contentious policies and decisions as the retired bureaucrat will be replacing Najeeb Jung as the lieutenant governor of Delhi. A 1969-batch IAS officer, Mr Baijal had served as the Union home secretary under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime and has held close ties with him. He is also known to be close to NSA Ajit Doval and PM Narendra Modi.  

Mr Baijal's proximity to the saffron brigade has given rise to fear in the section of AAP functionaries that he could toe the line of the BJP in framing policies for the national capital. A section within the AAP is of the view that his decisions may not be in sync with the elected government, thus leading to mis-governance in the city. Keeping in view objections raised by both AAP and Congress on the delimitation process, political pundits fear that if the new L-G gives his nod to the delimitation report, it may indirectly help BJP in the coming civic elections.

As the administrative head of the NCT of Delhi, all the orders passed by the elected government in Delhi have to get a nod from the L-G. The contentious issues on which Mr Baijal will have to take decision include the recommendations made by the  Shunglu Committee, which were given after reviewing the 400 files of the AAP government.

Also, ahead of the civic polls early next year, a delimitation report submitted by the state election commission recommending changes in the geographical locations of about 150 wards, out of 272 municipal seats is also awaiting clearance from Raj Niwas.

Renowned for his 'brilliance as an officer,' Mr Baijal has served with the National Security Advisor A.K Doval in 1969 in Mizoram. Interestingly, he is also associated with the Vivekananda Foundation, of which Mr Doval was a former member. Mr Baijal has also had close ties with BJP veteran leader LK Advani, who appointed him first the Union home secretary, then Deputy Prime Minister and Union home minister. He was later removed by the UPA government in 2004.

The coveted post of the Delhi's Lieutenant Governor fell vacant on December 22 after an abrupt resignation by Mr Jung. With President Pranab Mukherjee accepting Mr Jung's resignation on Wednesday, Mr Baijal will take oath on December 30 as Delhi's LG, a post which had been embroiled in a bitter power tussle with the elected government in the city.

Mr Baijal faces a challenging task of taking policy decisions on a range of issues as being the administrative head of the NCT of Delhi; all the orders passed by the elected government in Delhi have to get a nod from the L-G. The contentious issues on which Mr Baijal will have to take decision include the recommendations made by the three-member Shunglu Committee, which were given after reviewing the 400 files of the AAP government. Also, ahead of the civic polls early next year, a delimitation report submitted by the state election commission recommending changes in the geographical locations of about 150 wards, out of 272 municipal seats is also awaiting clearance from Raj Niwas.

As soon as Mr Baijal assumes charge as the new L-G, he will have to decide on the policy issues awaiting the nod of the Raj Niwas as the AAP government is finding it difficult to govern the city. A final go-ahead on the delimitation of the municipal wards is crucial with the civic polls due next year.

The committee had among other decisions reviewed the opening of mohalla clinics in schools, the premium bus aggregator scheme for running luxury buses, dedicated lanes for the buses, about 90 per cent hike in the salary of guest teachers, increase in minimum wages of the contract workers, 400 per cent hike in the pay and perks of the city legislators, revision of circle rates, appointment of an IRS officer as the chief of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and posting of health and PWD secretary.

These decisions had been taken by the AAP government without seeking prior approval of the LG. But the LG acted tough soon after the Delhi high court in its judgment ruled that he was the administrative head of the NCT of Delhi. The court had also ruled that the advice of the Delhi Cabinet ministers was not a binding on him