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CIVIC POLLS Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia have been inaugurating projects across the city. The BJP, which is also on a launching spree, says govt trying to create a perception that work is being done at a fast pace by holding functions to start routine work
With municipal elections round the corner, Delhi government is on an inauguration spree of development works.
From laying of sewer lines to repair and maintenance of roads, inauguration of power substation to opening of night shelters to announcement of new projects, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM, Manish Sisodia, have been leading the inauguration functions across the city over the past few days.
The Delhi government has been holding a slew of functions over the past few days, inaugurating development projects and schemes. Ministers have been inaugurating at least three to four development works on a daily basis, much to the criticism of the opposition.
On Sunday, the Delhi government held four functions almost in all corners of the city. Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta, termed the functions as a “cover up exercise” with an eye on the municipal elections.
“They (AAP government) are trying to create a perception that they are working at a fast pace. The chief minister and deputy chief minister are inaugurating road repair and maintenance work. These are routine work but being inaugurated as if they have come up with a new infrastructure project. We will have to check whether even work order of such works have been issued or not,” Gupta told Hindustan Times.
Gupta alleged that since the model code of conduct for civic polls is likely to come into effect soon, the government is inaugurating projects in “haste” but people can “see through it”.
Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in April, and dates for the polls are likely to be announced in mid-March. While the Bharatiya Janata Party is up against a decade-long anti-incumbency, the April election will be first the full-fledged municipal elections for AAP after it made an impressive debut in the municipal by-elections last year. AAP won five of the 12 municipal seats that went to polls last year.
The Delhi government officials, however, denied allegations that inauguration of the projects has anything to do with the municipal elections. A Delhi government spokesperson said that many of these projects got delayed as the former lieutenant governor kept sitting on files.
“Former L-G Najeeb Jung kept sitting on proposals in the name of verification. Also, it is wrong to say that projects are being inaugurated just because the civic polls are around. They are being done as and when development happens. The deputy chief minister inaugurated a bridge in Mayur Vihar in January itself,” a government spokesperson said. Foundation stone laid for fully air-conditioned Community Centre at Model Town-3 Three smart classes inaugurated at Municipal Model School in Rohini Sector 15 in Block C Foundation stone laid for school building at Chaukhandi and three roads renamed in Bakkarwala Two roads in Burari constituency renamed. The one connecting Burari Authority to Harijan Basti was named as Sir Chottu Ram Marg and another connecting it to the
Himgiri Enclave as Arya Samaj Mandir Marg