The question of whether Delhi might soon face President’s Rule has come to the forefront after President Droupadi Murmu forwarded a request from the Delhi BJP to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The BJP has called for the dismissal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. According to Vijender Gupta, the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, the memorandum submitted by BJP MLAs accusing the Delhi government of constitutional violations has been sent to the Home Ministry for review.
BJP’s Accusations Against the Delhi Government
Vijender Gupta stated that the AAP government’s failure to form the sixth Delhi Finance Commission and its lack of action on Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports are serious breaches of the Constitution. The BJP claims these oversights have hindered governance in the capital.
Appeal to President Murmu
On August 30, BJP MLAs, led by Vijender Gupta, met with President Murmu, urging her to address what they referred to as a “constitutional crisis” in Delhi. The crisis, they argued, is primarily due to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s imprisonment, which they claim has paralyzed the city’s administration. Gupta shared a letter from the President’s Secretariat, which confirmed that the President had acknowledged the memorandum and referred it to the Home Secretary for further action.
Kejriwal’s Arrest and Governance Concerns
The BJP expressed concern over Kejriwal’s continued tenure as Chief Minister despite being in jail for over four months due to his alleged involvement in the excise policy scam. According to the BJP, Kejriwal’s refusal to resign has caused a “complete collapse” of governance in Delhi, leading to delays in crucial administrative decisions and disruptions in essential services. The memorandum claims this is negatively impacting the lives of Delhi’s citizens.
Constitutional Violations Cited by BJP
The BJP accused the AAP government of failing to establish the sixth Delhi Finance Commission since April 2021, which violates Articles 243-I and 243-Y of the Indian Constitution. This failure has reportedly disrupted financial planning, especially for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Additionally, the BJP criticized the Delhi government for not presenting 11 CAG reports to the Legislative Assembly. This has allegedly undermined transparency and the proper examination of the government’s financial dealings, raising concerns about the AAP government’s financial integrity.
Allegations of Corruption and Mismanagement
The memorandum also pointed to several allegations of corruption within the AAP government, including the Delhi liquor scam, which led to the arrest of senior ministers. Financial mismanagement within the Delhi Jal Board was also highlighted, with the government failing to prepare balance sheets for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Furthermore, the BJP alleged that the Delhi government has been obstructing the implementation of central government welfare schemes, further deepening governance issues in the capital.
Calls for Article 356 to Be Invoked
A group of BJP MLAs, including Mohan Singh Bisht, Om Prakash Sharma, Ajay Mahawar, and others, joined Vijender Gupta in requesting President Murmu to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution, which would allow for the dismissal of the AAP government. They argued that the current governance situation in Delhi has deteriorated to such an extent that presidential intervention is necessary to uphold constitutional principles and protect democratic norms.
The BJP’s appeal to President Murmu signals increasing political tension in Delhi, with the future of the AAP government now in question as investigations and reviews continue.