NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that there could be a “difference of opinion” on various issues between him and lieutenant governor VK Saxena but there was no personal conflict.
After his weekly meeting with the LG at his secretariat, the CM said that the duo had a meeting in a “cordial atmosphere” where they discussed various issues pertaining to the development of Delhi.
“The meeting took place in a very cordial atmosphere. It is important for Delhi that the LG and the CM work together. Hamare beech bahut saare muddon pe matbhed ho sakte hain, manbhed nahi hai (There can be differences of opinion between us on various issues but there is no personal conflict),” Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting.
Since he took over as lieutenant governor of Delhi, Saxena and the CM have been meeting every Friday at 4pm at the former’s office to discuss how to ensure better coordination among various departments falling under the elected government and the LG, who is appointed by the central government.
Kejriwal had skipped the meeting last Friday amid speculation that he was unhappy with the LG’s rejection of his proposed visit to Singapore to attend World Cities Summit on the ground that it was a mayoral conference not befitting the chief minister. The CM’s office, however, had cited ill-health for Kejriwal skipping the meeting.
Talking to reporters after Friday’s meeting, Kejriwal said, “We discussed several issues including water, cleanliness and power. We will continue to work together on those issues and resolve them.”
The LG and elected Delhi government have had several run-ins in the past three months. The ruling AAP has been accusing the LG of “interfering” in the state government's responsibilities by summoning officials for meetings on subjects not under his purview.
Earlier this month, the LG also granted CBI permission to prosecute Okhla MLA Amantullah Khan in a case related to the Delhi Waqf Board, which evoked a strong reaction from the Aam Aadmi Party. Other decisions of the LG contested by the AAP government include his recommendation to the CBI to probe alleged irregularities in formulation and implementation of Delhi’s excise policy, advising CM Kejriwal against attending the World Cities Summit in Singapore, permitting ACB to probe a complaint of irregularities in awarding tenders for the construction of seven temporary Covid hospitals and seeking the bio-data of candidates selected as public prosecutors and standing counsel.
On July 27, Saxena also asked the Delhi Assembly speaker to amend rules related to the conduct of business and procedure of the House to bring them in line with the GNCTD (Amendment) Act, 2021.
