Delhi’s public are waiting to be the gainers. Apart from the best in civic services, the voters are now entitled to best of services in areas like health, education, water and power supply, law and order et al.
Devsagar Singh / New Delhi
There is intense interest in who becomes Chief Minister of Delhi. This is so even though Delhi CM does not enjoy powers of his counterparts in other states. Indeed, he is overshadowed by the Lt Governor who has the real powers having a veto in nearly every decision that the council of ministers takes.
Frontrunner Parvesh Varma who defeated Arvind Kejriwal from the prestigious New Delhi constituency has put out expensive billboards displaying his own picture along with that of PM Modi and Amit Shah at important bus stops in key places in the Lutyen’s zone as if he has already assumed charge. Others like Vijendra Gupta, former leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly , are lying low. Who knows who becomes the final choice?
BJP circles were agog with rumors that Parvesh Varma was the choice of the Home Minister but the PM had put a stay on any decision till he returned from his US tour. Indeed, nothing moved till Modi came back from Washington DC. Even the venue (Ram Lila Ground) was finalized after the PM’s return.
The interest in Delhi CM is, indeed, commensurate with the speculation about his impending powers. Now that the union territory is all set to get a double engine government, word is that the CM will be powerful and the LG will only play a second fiddle. This is because the CM will always be in the loop with top brass of the party and the Government. There is likelihood of a new Lt Governor as well to sync with the new situation.
The BJP is looking at a change in the MCD power structure too after some AAP members defected to it in the municipal body. New party MLAs, even before taking oath, are said to have had meetings with civic officials to flex muscle. Works stopped midway after AAP’s loss have re-started in earnest in residential colonies, according to MCD officials.
It is said a rash of civic works is in the offing to demonstrate the new regime’s coming after a gap of 27 years. The first to feel the impact will be colony roads and streets which needed urgent repairs, followed by a sanitation drive around the national capital, according to party managers.
The new CM will obviously have his hands full as soon as he takes charge. He will exercise the authority which until recently was enjoyed by the Lt Governor. Hence, the excitement and interest about who dons the cap.
Delhi could be the model to showcase how the double engine Sarkar works for the welfare of the people. After all, Delhi is the seat of national government and must get maximum importance from the local government. Its failure is bound to reflect on the central government. PM Modi has publicly pronounced his guarantee for the best services for the people of Delhi. It has to be, therefore, in marked contrast to the situation that obtained during the AAP’s regime which kept fighting with the Centre on various issues.
Delhi’s public are waiting to be the gainers. Apart from the best in civic services, the voters are now entitled to best of services in areas like health, education, water and power supply, law and order et al.