AAP wins trust vote in Assembly

Congress, JD(U) members and an Independent MLA help Kejriwal sail through

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Thursday won the trust vote in Delhi Assembly, with the Congress, Janata Dal (United) and an Independent supporting it.

The party’s victory came amid taunts by its alliance partner Congress and scathing attack by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Soon after winning the vote, Kejriwal announced his government’s decision of taking strong action against all corrupt administrations — be it the previous Congress regime or the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) or even his own government. Passing a strong Jan Lok Pal Bill for Delhi would be the priority of his government, he said.

In an emotional speech seeking the confidence of the House, Kejriwal said, “I am not here to seek majority for my party or government, but I want to know who all want to stand with AAP in its fight to clean up politics in the country.”

During the confidence motion, passed by voice note, the AAP which has 28 seats in the Assembly, got the support from seven Congress MLAs, one JD(U) and an Independent, thereby bagging 37 votes.

Minutes after winning the trust motion, Kejriwal said the most important agenda before the AAP was passing the Jan Lok Pal Bill within 15 days in Delhi. “I assure you with all the energy and resources at my command that we won’t spare any corrupt person in MCD, opposition or within the government,” said Kejriwal.

The six-day old chief minister made it clear to the established parties that AAP’s appeal was not restricted to chaiwallas and the poor, middle class also supports them.

He said AAP’s mandate was to bring in clean politics and clean governance as “politics has become corrupt”.   

While delivering his address in the House, Kejriwal had sought approval of the parties on 17 issues which AAP had raised during the poll campaign, including end to VIP culture, full statehood and a stand against FDI in retail.

Replying to the motion moved by the Education, PWD and Urban Development Minister Manish Sisodia, Leader of the Opposition Harsh Vardhan accused the AAP government of betraying the people’s mandate by aligning with a party which it had dubbed as “most corrupt”.

“A party about which Kejriwal used to say as the most corrupt; the party against which he contested the elections; the party against which he said if elected to power he would send corrupt ministers to jail, and would unearth all fraudulent deeds of that government; he took its support,” said Vardhan.

Vardhan argued that the people's mandate was in his party’s favour and said it was ironical that the party which got the maximum votes was sitting in the opposition. He, however, made it clear that BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the people’s choice. “You may do whatever you want, but the people of the country have decided that Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister of the country.”

During the debate, Arvinder Singh, the state Congress chief, assured support to the AAP government as long as it would work for the welfare of Delhi citizens. “We will keep supporting the AAP till they work towards the good of the people of Delhi,” Singh said.

“I request Kejriwal not to take any decision in haste which harms people’s welfare in the state,” Singh said targetting AAP’s decision on 20,000 litres free water supply for a household per month and providing subsidies on power.

Singh said that amidst Kejriwal’s claim of Rs 200 crore subsidy burden as a result of providing electricity at half the rates to houses utilising power up to 400 units, it could cost the exchequer Rs 315 crore. “Your officers are misguiding you,” he said to Kejriwal. Singh said that in fact, after March, the subsidy burden could be as high as Rs 1,350 crore on the government. Even the BJP criticised the move saying the money which could have been utilised on various development projects will now be given to the discoms.