Delhi Congress chief criticises BJP’s delay in appointing CM
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav expressed concern over the prolonged delay by the BJP in appointing its Chief Ministerial candidate even a week after the victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Yadav suggested that the delay in selecting a CM points to internal power struggles within the BJP, raising concerns for the future governance of Delhi.
Reflecting on the party’s history, Yadav recalled the instability during the BJP’s first term in power in Delhi, between 1993 and 1998, when the city witnessed the change of three Chief Ministers in just five years. He warned that a similar situation might unfold this time, with nearly 10 BJP MLAs reportedly vying for the top post.
Yadav also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for not naming its Leader of the Opposition (LoP) despite having 22 MLAs in the Assembly. He pointed out that despite the party’s claims of governance, AAP seems to be embroiled in its own power struggle, with internal competition for the LoP position between senior leaders like Gopal Rai and former caretaker CM Atishi.
Yadav alleged that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal prefers to have a “dummy” LoP to maintain control, following the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.
The Congress leader further emphasized that the people of Delhi had voted the BJP to power with high expectations for good governance. With 48 seats in the Delhi Assembly, the BJP must now appoint a competent and powerful Chief Minister to address critical issues such as air and water pollution, deteriorating civic infrastructure, high utility bills and sanitation crisis.
Yadav urged the BJP to ensure that the new CM is not distracted by competing aspirants and can start working immediately on resolving Delhi’s problems.
Yadav also called on the BJP to honour its promises made during the campaigning, particularly regarding freebies. He cautioned the BJP against following the example of Kejriwal’s government, which he claimed prioritised personal comfort and corruption over addressing the city’s pressing issues.
