‘Rubber stamp’ CM jibe leads to war of words between AAP, BJP
A political slugfest erupted on Sunday between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the role of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with AAP accusing her husband of operating in her place.
AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that seasoned leaders have been sidelined to install a ‘rubber stamp’ Chief Minister in Delhi. He alleged that with official meetings were being conducted not by CM Rekha Gupta but by her husband, Manish Gupta.
The BJP hit back saying in the times of Arvind Kejriwal officials of Delhi Government used to call Sunita Kejriwal “Madam CM".
Bhardwaj said the involvement of Manish Gupta in official matters was a “mockery of democracy" and demanded to know under what authority the CM’s husband is issuing directions to officers.
Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us Prajatantra (democracy), but the BJP has given us Parchi Tantra (governance by slip of paper). There was a time when veteran leaders who had spent years struggling for their party and for the people were chosen as Chief Ministers. But BJP’s record in recent years shows a different story altogether.”
Bhardwaj earlier cited examples across states, to hammer his point.
“Be it Vasundhara Raje Scindia in Rajasthan, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, or senior leaders in other states – all have been sidelined. Instead, someone nobody could have even imagined is suddenly declared Chief Minister," he said attacking the BJP for disregarding talent.
He pointed out, “It began with Manohar Lal Khattar, then Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and now Rajasthan. A name is pulled out of a slip, and that person is declared CM. This parchi mukhyamantri tradition is now in full swing."
Leader of Opposition Atishi had on Saturday raised questions about Manish Gupta’s presence in an official meeting with senior officers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).
Bhardwaj doubled down the criticism today.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva responded to AAP accusations and said family members being present during discussions is not unusual or unlawful.
Rejecting charges of AAP as baseless and politically motivated, Sachdeva said AAP was engaging in a coordinated attack due to a “power tussle" between Atishi and Bharadwaj.
“If AAP was opposed to family members getting involved why did government officials refer to Sunita Kejriwal as Madam CM when Arvind Kejriwal was the chief minister?" He asked.
Delhi