Farcical aspect of Delhi polls

BETWEEN US = Ր Even though the Prime Minister kick-started the campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday by accusing Arvind Kejriwal of running a disastrous regime in the capital, there appears to be a farcical dimension to the Delhi Assembly polls.

It is evident that the elections would not change the way things are in Delhi so far as the system goes, since the Centre shall continue to have overriding powers over any elected government, given the Constitution provides these powers. In other words, even if the Aam Aadmi Party were to return in the city, it shall I have to play second fiddle to the Lieutenant Governor in most matters and shall have little say in the scheme of things.

The BJP is in a win-win situation right from the beginning. If it is victorious and manages to wrest control of the government, it shall have no worries since the party also controls the Centre. And in case the AAP achieves a hattrick, the BJP shall still call the shots because of it being in power at the Centre.

The Constitution also has made it clear that both law and order, police and land use were not going to be part of any government that gets elected in the capital. And after the Supreme Court rulings on many other issues, it is evident that the Centre shall have complete domination over the affairs of the city through the office of the Lt Governor.