Kejriwal creating unnecessary controversy over DERC chief: BJP

The BJP's Delhi unit on Friday attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for what it said was "unnecessary controversy" he was creating over the selection and appointment of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

"Kejriwal's tweet and statement on DERC chairman's appointment shows his rigid attitude," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay said here.

"If the Chief Minister feels that the work of the present Chairman of DERC is good, then he should seek the Lt. Governor's approval the same way he had sought on the file regarding (DCW chief) Swati Maliwal," Upadhyay said.

Upadhyay's remarks came after the Chief Minister urged Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung to "reconsider" his order removing Krishna Saini as the Chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

Jung had on Wednesday scrapped the appointment of Saini as DERC chief and asked the Delhi government to start the selection process afresh as per law.

Former Chief Income Tax Commissioner Krishna Saini was on March 5 appointed the new DERC chief succeeding P.D. Sudhakar, who retired on January 29.

Recalling the controversy over Maliwal's appointment as the Delhi Commission for Women's Chairperson last year, Upadhyay said: "The Kejriwal government had confrontation with the Lt. Governor that time too."

"But as they sent the file concerned to the Lt. Governor following the laid-down procedure, Maliwal's appointment was approved immediately," the BJP leader said.

"If the appointment process is lawful, it will be approved," he added.

--IANS

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