Kejriwal still CM by people’s choice: AAP

New Delhi: Downplaying Delhi High Court’s observations that a person holding the post of chief minister cannot be incommunicado or absent for an uncertain period, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member, Sanjay Singh, on Monday said the decision that Arvind Kejriwal should continue to be chief minister even after being jailed was that of the people of Delhi. Singh also accused BJP and lieutenant governor for the current crisis in Municipal Corporation of Delhi where all big-ticket projects are stuck in the absence of Standing Committee and said LG arbitrarily appointed aldermen to MCD without the aid and advice of the elected dispensation. Presenting the party’s side after Monday’s court order regarding work being affected due to the non-constitution of Standing Committee, Singh said, “Expressing my full respect towards the high court, I want to say Arvind Kejriwal is a true patriot. Nobody can raise questions on his patriotism. He is a victim of a political conspiracy.” “Kejriwal is serving the people of Delhi like a true patriot even in jail. It is the decision of the people of Delhi and party MLAs that he should remain CM,” the MP said, adding that the same court had dismissed three PILs demanding his removal. Arrested on March 21 by Enforcement Directorate in a Delhi excise policy-linked case, Kejriwal has been lodged in Tihar Jail since April 1. Delhi Ministers meet Kejriwal in jail and get directions, said Singh. “The high court decision should be looked at from the perspective of the non-formation of the Standing Committee due to LG’s interference. All works are ongoing and our ministers are solving people’s problems,” he emphasised.Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor, however, said Singh was “defending the indefensible” despite knowing that the entire administrative set up in the capital was on the “verge of collapse” due to Kejriwal’s insistence to continue as CM. “There is no ideological reason behind AAP not allowing the Standing Committee election. They fear losing the election,” Kapoor claimed. On Arvinder Singh Lovely resigning from the post of Delhi Congress chief and citing the party’s tie-up with AAP for the Lok Sabha polls as one of the reasons, Singh said, “I am not going to lie… But with full responsibility, I will say that Lovely-ji played an important role in reaching a compromise and formation of an alliance between AAP and Congress in Delhi.” Singh added that he would also thank Lovely “for being the first opposition leader to reach CM Arvind Kejriwal’s residence during his arrest”.On whether the resignation would have its impact on the chances of INDIA bloc in Delhi, Singh said it was an internal matter of Congress and its senior functionaries would find a solution to it.