Anil Baijal to be next Delhi LG ? Centre may announce today..
NEW DELHI : After the abrupt resignation of Najeeb Jung as Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, the centre may announce his successor today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly discussed names last night when they met at the farewell dinner of military chiefs.
Retired IAS officer Anil Baijal is the frontrunner for the post of Delhi Lieutenant Governor, which fell vacant on Thursday after the abrupt resignation of Najeeb Jung, sources told media persons.
Jung resigned with one and a half years left for his term, after a tumultuous stint at the Delhi Raj Niwas that saw him locking horns with the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party multiple times.
Baijal had been a member of the executive council of the Vivekananda International Foundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank that had many of its fellows appointed to senior positions in the Narendra Modi government.
Earlier, there were reports that his name was being considered for the post of the governor of Jammu & Kashmir. Baijal, an IAS officer, was the Union home secretary in the AB Valypayee government.
He has also been the vice-chairman of Delhi Development Authority, CMD of Air India and CEO of Prasar Bharti.Baijal joined the IAS in 1969 and retired in 2006 as urban development secretary, Government of India.
KJ Alphonse, whose appointment by the centre as Chandigarh’s administrator was scrapped amid controversy, is also believed to be in the running.
The Home Ministry will send a name to the President in consultation with the Prime Minister’s office, sources said today.
Mr Kejriwal had, over two years of power clashes with Mr Jung, accused him of working as an agent of the BJP-led government at the centre and severely undermining the elected AAP government.
“Najeeb Jung was under the influence of someone. We hope the next LG gives priority to issues concerning people and does not work under anyone’s influence,” AAP’s Kumar Vishwas said on Thursday.Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken demanded that the Centre explain Mr Jung’s “unceremonious exit”, insisting that “there is more to it than meets the eye”.
Meanwhile ,Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju criticised speculation over Mr Jung’s resignation. “I don’t know what problems do the AAP and Congress have. When Jung was working, they were demanding resignation.
“Now since he has resigned, they are questioning why he has resigned. Should Jung have resigned by taking permission from AAP and Congress?,” he said.
Meanwhile , Union Minister of State for Home Affairs (MoS) Kiren Rijiju on Friday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for questioning Najeeb Jung’s exit as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. today said that it was Jung’s personal decision.
Rijiju also refused to clarify what forced Najeeb Jung to resign as Delhi Lieutenant Governor.When questioned by reporters, Rijiju said, “Please ask Najeeb Jung why he has resigned. He has resigned and there is no need for any clarification on it…”
The Union Minister also criticised AAP for raising the issue. “I don’t know why AAP is questioning us,” Rijiju asked. Rijiju also made a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and said, “Why does he want to do a question-answer? There is no need for Rahul Gandhi’s accusations to be taken seriously”.
Jung’s exit yesterday, which caught Delhi’s political circles by surprise, also brought the curtain down on a tenure marked by a bitter confrontation with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over who had the real power to administer Delhi.
A statement issued by Jung’s office did not cite reasons for his resignation but said he would be returning to academics. Kejriwal said he was surprised by Jung’s decision and spoke to him after the news became public.
The LG won a crucial victory when the Delhi High Court upheld his primacy in administering the capital but the battle is not yet over with the matter before the Supreme Court, which is hearing the appeal filed by the AAP government.
The SC recently remarked that while Delhi was indeed a Union Territory , the elected government should have “some powers”.
