'Unconstitutional & Illegal', Says Sisodia As Delhi LG Removes AAP Govt Nominees From Discom Boards

Sisodia's response comes as Delhi LG office stated that AAP govt-appointed nominees "collaborated" with private representatives and "benefitted" them to the tune of Rs 8000 cr at the cost of public exchequer.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday criticised LG V K Saxena's decision to remove Kejriwal government-appointed members from DISCOMs boards as "unconstitutional and illegal". The remarks came as it was reported that 'Government nominees', including AAP leader Jasmine Shah, appointed to the boards of private power DISCOMs in the national capital have been replaced with senior officials.

The LG has started a new trend of reversing decisions taken by the elected government of Delhi, Sisodia said at a press conference, as reported by news agency PTI. He dismissed the allegation that the members appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal government provided benefits to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore to the private DISCOMs.

The LG can get the alleged "scam" investigated by any central agency, the Deputy Chief Minister remarked.

Delhi LG Office On AAP Govt Nominees From DISCOM Boards

Earlier in the day, the LG Office informed in a statement, "Delhi LG, VK Saxena had ordered for the immediate removal of AAP Spokesperson, Jasmine Shah, Son of AAP MP, ND Gupta- Navin Gupta and other private individuals, who had been illegally appointed as government Nominees on the boards of privately owned DISCOMs- BYPL, BRPL (Anil Ambani) and NDPDCL (Tata)", news agency ANI reported.

Terming the appointments as illegal, the release stated that the two had "collaborated" with private representatives on boards of Anil Ambani-owned DISCOMs and "benefitted" them to the tune of Rs 8000 crore at the cost of the public exchequer.

The Finance Secretary, Power Secretary, and MD, of 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 CM, when these DISCOMs came into existence, the release stated.

"Invoking "difference of opinion" under Article 239AA of the Constitution of India, after the Arvind Kejriwal government persisted in their continuance on these boards, despite proven misconduct and maleficence on their part, by way of benefiting the Ambani-owned DISCOMs to the tune of more than 8000 crores, at the cost of government exchequer, Saxena had referred the matter to the President of India for a decision. He had asked for the removal of the above-mentioned political appointees on the DISCOMs boards with immediate effect, pending the President's decision, and asked for senior government officials to replace them on the boards of the DICOMS," the LG Office statement read, as quoted by ANI.

The Delhi government owns a 49 per cent stake in the DISCOMs. Senior officers used to serve on the boards of the DISCOMs earlier, but the Kejriwal government started nominating politically affiliated persons to them, the statement by the Delhi LG office read.

As per the LG office, the AAP nominees on the DISCOMs had a quid pro quo arrangement involving commissions and kickbacks. "Instead of acting vigilant in the 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 per cent to 12 per cent, and in the process unduly benefitted them to the tune of Rs 8468 crores- an amount that would have gone to the Delhi Government exchequer," it stated.

The LG does not have the power to issue such orders, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party claimed.

The AAP stated that only the elected government has power to issue orders on the subject of electricity. "The LG has made a complete mockery of all Supreme Court orders and the Constitution. He is openly going around saying that SC orders are not binding on him," the party added, as quoted by PTI.