Headlines
Can Kejriwal deliver on his promises?
With the overwhelming vote from the people of Delhi in his favour, Chief
Minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal has been saddled with the
challenging responsibility of meeting the collective and varied
aspirations of the 17 million residents inhabiting one of the world's
largest and most densely populated cities.
Delhi's unique
position as a city-state and India's capital ensures that the four civic
bodies, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and last, but not the
least, the Delhi Police, are controlled by the union government of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. While DDA falls under the urban development
ministry, the civic bodies and the Delhi Police are under the home
ministry.
So, it's one thing for Kejriwal to promise subsidised
water and power, but when it comes to law and order, legalising squatter
settlements and shantytowns -- called unauthorised colonies -- and even
providing housing, he is likely to have a tough time keeping his
promises - a fact repeatedly raised by former Delhi chief minister
Sheila Dikshit.
Kejriwal's promise of building permanent houses
for slum dwellers can only be termed lip service as not all land in
Delhi belongs to the state government. One of the first things Kejriwal
did Wednesday, a day after the election results were announced, was to
meet Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.
According to
Shailaja Chandra, a former Delhi chief secretary: "If some land belongs
to the Delhi government, only then it can be used for such purpose.
Otherwise, if according to the Delhi Master Plan, the demarcated land
has to be used for forest cover or educational institutions and
hospitals, then nothing much can be done by the Delhi government."
"As
far as passing bills in the assembly is concerned, it will be difficult
as almost all laws go to the Centre for approval," Chandra, who was
chief secretary from 2001 to 2004 during Dikshit's tenure, said, adding
this is ensured by the capital's status as a union territory.
"This
has traditionally been difficult as both the Centre and the state have
to be on the same page on each and every issue," Chandra told IANS.
According
to Chandra, what Kejriwal can do is to order constructions like
hospitals and schools and the like, but the Delhi government coffers do
not have enough money for that.
"Money will be a problem. Unlike
the common perception, Delhi doesn't have a sound monetary backup as,
not being a full state, it cannot go to the markets (to raise money),"
she said. "As far as cheap power and water are concerned, the only
option is giving subsidies," she said.
Former Delhi lt governor
Tejinder Khanna said that though Kejriwal has got a stupendous majority,
what he now has to ensure is that he bridges the political divide.
"Kejriwal
now has to ensure that he keeps channels open with the Centre as well
as the municipalities... Only then can he deliver," Khanna told IANS.
He said the success of the Delhi government now depends on how it is able to ensure a joint effort.
However,
a political leader from a rival party pointed out that what Kejriwal
can do is to use whatever powers he has to bring about a sense of
participation and justice to Delhiites by opening more hospitals and
OPDs and stopping bribery and corruption.
(Sreeparna Chakrabarty can be contacted at [email protected])