Statehood for Delhi could be AAP’S poll plank in 2019

NEW DELHI: The threeday special session of Delhi Assembly in June would witness revival of the debate over full statehood to Delhi, and it is likely that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party would make full statehood a poll plank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections too.

On May 22, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had tweeted, “Delhi Assembly’s 3-days special session of on 6, 7 & 8 June to discuss and decide on the ‘demand of full statehood’ for Delhi. People of Delhi cannot be denied their rights. Looking forward to meaningful debates.”

The AAP government had on May 15, 2016, tabled a draft Bill for full statehood to Delhi, which envisaged complete administrative power including police, law and order and land to the Delhi government, while leaving governance of the New Delhi Municipal Council area with the Union Government.

The demand for full statehood has been pending for the last 22 years, with both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress promising statehood for Delhi in their previous election manifestos. However, none could deliver on their promise.

Last November, former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had said that Delhi would have witnessed better development “had my government not been shackled by the present governance structure, characterised by a multiplicity of agencies and authorities.”

Her views echoed those of BJP’S Madan Lal Khurana, who, back in 1994, had demanded statehood way during his tenure as Delhi Chief Minister.

So did his fellow party man Saheb Singh Verma, who, as CM in 1998, had drafted a bill for Delhi’s statehood.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani, during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister, had tabled the State of Delhi Bill, 2003, which would endow the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi with full statehood.

The bill went to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, headed by then Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, which did not make any major recommendations except a provision that confers special powers on the President to give directions for good governance and proper development of the State of Delhi.

Senior leaders in AAP have claimed that the BJP has full majority in the Lok Sabha and two big Delhi BJP leaders are ministers in the Union Cabinet, Tet, the party is mute on the statehood issue.

With complete statehood has eluded the Capital, it has been unable to tackle problems such as unauthorised colonies, lack of civic amenities, reluctance behaviour of bureaucrats and anomalies in implementation of Delhi Master Plan, among others.

Since coming to power in 2015, the Aap-led Delhi government has been at loggerheads with Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Bjp-led Centre.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has often accused the LG of creating obstacles in the elected government’s work.

If full statehood is to be attained, this tussle may see some form of resolution.