Delhi elections 2015: BJP skips full statehood issue

NEW DELHI: The issue of full statehood seems to have slipped from BJP’s agenda and might not find a mention in the party’s “vision document.” On Thursday, several senior members, including cabinet ministers, evaded the question of granting full statehood to Delhi, which was on top of BJP’s agenda till Lok Sabha election.
Asked about the party’s views, Union minister for skill development Rajiv Pratap Rudy refused to answer.“We will let you know our decision,” he said. Rumours suggest the issue may be dropped from the vision document as many in the government believe it is “impossible to implement”. BJP members say a list of issues will be released which the party plans to implement.
The issue of full statehood has found mention in every manifesto of the party since 1993. It was one of the topmost and key issues highlighted by the party in its “Delhi specific manifesto” released during Lok Sabha election last year.
Successive governments in Delhi, irrespective of their political affiliation, have been demanding full statehood so that law and order comes under the chief minister. Delhi BJP members, too, have been demanding full statehood for long. But now the cause seems to have been forgotten.
Recently, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi said that Delhi CM can check on law and order through the LG. When asked about full statehood, Bedi had said, “It is for the party to decide. As for law and order, it can be taken care of if the chief minister and LG work in tandem.”
AAP members say after coming to power BJP has fallen silent on the issue. “In the past seven months, nothing has been done showing they are serious about their commitment,” said an AAP member. The party plans to make it an issue in its election campaigns.
The issue of full statehood was raised by AAP just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally on January 10. Arvind Kejriwal had asked Modi to make his stand clear. When the PM didn’t address the issue in his rally, AAP accused Modi of going back on his promise made during Lok Sabha election.