CAG storm awaits AAP in Delhi Assembly session

The first session of the newly elected 70-member Delhi Assembly, beginning Monday, is expected to be stormy as the BJP government is set to table long-pending 14 CAG reports, which examine the financial and administrative performance of the previous AAP government in the national capital. The CAG reports, which are to be tabled in the House on February 25, have been at the centre of a fierce battle between the BJP and the AAP, with the former accusing the previous administration of delaying their release to hide alleged corruption.

During the AAP's tenure, Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta, who is all set to be elected as the Speaker of the new Assembly, along with six other BJP legislators had  filed a petition in Delhi high court last year, seeking its direction to the speaker to call a session of the assembly for tabling the CAG reports. Gupta had also accused the AAP government of deliberately withholding the reports out of fear that those would expose the corruption within the administration.

Some BJP MLA are likely to raise the issue related to the renovation of 6, Flag Staff Road bungalow, which was the residence of Arvind Kejriwal during his tenure as the chief minister and was dubbed the "Sheesh Mahal" by the saffron party to highlight alleged corruption in the run-up to the Delhi elections. The bungalow was allotted to Kejriwal in 2015 and is owned by the Delhi government's Public Works Department.

On October 14, 2024, Mr Gupta, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly then, had filed a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commission alleging illegal construction at 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow, following which the CPWD was asked to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in the construction of the bungalow.

Of the CAG reports, which are likely to raise a storm in the House  relate to the excise department, mohalla clinics and the Delhi Transport Corporation. A few CAG reports had been sent to the Delhi government way back in August 2023.

The nod to table the CAG reports, which were pending since the tenure of the previous AAP government, was given by Rekha Gupta in the first cabinet meeting she chaired after taking oath as the Delhi chief minister.  The newly chief minister has also hinted that the CAG reports could bring uncomfortable revelations for the opposition. "They are worried that once the CAG reports are tabled, many records will be exposed," she remarked.

As per the legislative assembly bulletin, the first session of the eighth Delhi Assembly will begin on Monday, with newly elected MLAs taking oath at about 11 am, followed by the Speaker's election at 2 pm. Four-time MLA Arvinder Singh will perform the duties of the pro-tem Speaker till the new Speaker is elected. The new members of the House will take oath before the pro-tem speaker. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will address the House on Tuesday before the CAG reports are tabled. The session will resume on February 27 for discussions on the motion of thanks and the election of  deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht.