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Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena praised Chief Minister Atishi during an event on Friday and described him as ‘thousands of times better than his predecessor’. These comments are a far cry from the poor relations and frequent wars of words that marked Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure.
“I am happy today that the CM of Delhi is a woman and I can say with confidence that she is a thousand times better than her predecessor,” Saxena said during a convocation ceremony in the city.
After Kejriwal resigned in September, Aam Aadmi Party members have been repeatedly at loggerheads with Saxena over a range of issues related to governance and control over bureaucracy. After coming out of Tihar Jail on bail, the AAP chief is seeking ‘certificate of honesty’ from the public in the upcoming elections. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March for alleged links to the Delhi excise policy case.
The comments come just days after senior AAP leader Kailash Gehlot quit the party and the Atishi-led cabinet and joined the BJP. Source-based reports suggest that his growing closeness to Saxena had created concerns before the defection.
The first signs of tension emerged in August when Saxena chose a two-time MLA to hoist the national flag for Independence Day. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – who was still in Tihar Jail at the time – had recommended Atishi for the role. Gehlot and Saxena were also regular participants at various public events – such as laying foundation stones or inaugurating new initiatives – while other AAP leaders engaged in verbal confrontations with Raj Niwas.
Assembly elections in Delhi are likely to be held in early 2025 but the Election Commission has not yet announced the dates. During the 2015 elections, AAP had won an absolute majority and won 62 out of 70 seats.
(with inputs from agencies)
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