Capital politics: Now, BJP’s Vijender Gupta is ‘unhappy’ with L-G Baijal’s decisions

Gupta cited at least two decisions — appointment of 30 aldermen in the three municipal corporations and approval of State Naming Authority — to substantiate his point.

The Arvind Kejriwal government is not the only one to have had problems with the functioning of the office of the Delhi lieutenant governor.

Gupta cited at least two decisions — appointment of 30 aldermen in the three municipal corporations and approval of State Naming Authority — to substantiate his point. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Vijender Gupta has now questioned the city administrator’s functioning, saying he is ‘unhappy’ with some of the recent decisions of lieutenant governor Anil Baijal.

Gupta cited at least two decisions — appointment of 30 aldermen in the three municipal corporations and approval of State Naming Authority — to substantiate his point.

“I am unhappy with the way the L-G has approved some of the recent decisions of the Aam Aadmi Party government, which has been working in an undemocratic manner and has been undermining the opposition. Being the city administrator, the L-G should ensure that there is balance in representation of the elected representatives in such cases,” Gupta said.

The Rohini legislator said he has sought time from the L-G office to raise his concerns and is likely to meet Baijal next week.

Under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 30 people are nominated as aldermen in the municipal bodies — 10 each in the three municipal corporations — by the lieutenant governor on the recommendation of the Delhi government. The alderman do not have voting rights but are drawn from various fields and act as experts in the municipal bodies and are entitled to raise civic issues in the house meetings.

Gupta alleged that the Delhi government has recommended names of its party workers for the post instead of experts.

Earlier this week, the Delhi government also constituted the State Naming Authority, which has the mandate to decide on naming, renaming of roads, streets, villages among others, after approval from the lieutenant governor.

While deputy CM Manish Sisodia would chair the authority, the 34 members of the panel also include seven AAP MLAs and officers of the Centre.

“The L-G needs to ensure that the government is making appointments in the bodies in a fair manner and give representations to the opposition members as well,” Gupta said.