AAP nominees have been replaced by senior government officers.

New Delhi:

In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena today removed two nominees backed by it from the board of private power distribution companies. The Department of Power removed AAP spokesperson Jasmine Shah, and Naveen ND Gupta, son of AAP MP ND Gupta, saying they had been illegally appointed as ‘government nominees’ on the boards of privately owner discoms BYPL, BRPL (Anil Ambani), and NDPDCL (Tata). AAP nominees have been replaced by senior government officers.

AAP has called the order “unconstitutional and illegal”, adding that only the elected government has the power to issue orders on electricity. The Lieutenant Governor has made a mockery of the Constitution, the party said.

VK Saxena has sought their removal based on a report by the Chief Secretary that alleged the AAP nominees provided financial benefits to private discoms at the cost of the state exchequer.

AAP had earlier rubbished the allegations, saying regular audits of discoms were done as per cabinet decisions.

“They had collaborated with private representatives on boards of Anil Ambani owned discoms and benefitted them to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore at the cost of public exchequer,” the Chief Secretary’s report said.

“Finance Secretary, Power Secretary and MD, Delhi Transco will now represent the government on these Ambani and Tata owned discoms, as per regular practice, followed since Sheila Dikshit’s time as Chief Minister, when these discoms came into existence,” it added.

The Lieutenant Governor said appointing senior government officials on these boards was the norm till Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government nominated party functionaries.

VK Saxena invoked “difference of opinion” under Article 239AA of the Constitution, after the Arvind Kejriwal government persisted on their continuance on these boards, “despite proven misconduct and maleficence on their part”.

Mr Saxena had earlier referred the matter to the President for a decision. 

“Delhi government which owns 49% of stake in the private discoms used to nominate senior government officials so that the interests of the government and people of Delhi could be taken care of, in decisions taken by the discom boards,” the order said.

“However, these AAP nominees on the discoms, in a quid pro quo arrangement involving commissions and kickbacks, instead of acting vigilant in interest of the people and government of Delhi, acted in cahoots with the BRPL and BYPL boards, facilitated a decision by their boards to decrease the LPSC rates from 18% to 12%, and in the process unduly benefitted them to the tune of Rs 8468 crore – an amount that would have gone to the Delhi government exchequer,” it added.