With the help of the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Delhi, headed by Arvind Kejriwal, won the trust vote in the 70-member Assembly.
The confidence motion, moved by Minister Manish Sisodia, was put to a voice vote by the pro-tem Speaker Mateen Ahmad.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party termed most of the AAP’s announcements as eyewash, the Congress said it was supporting Kejriwal to ensure the continuation of development in the city-state.
Listing 17 issues for which AAP was fighting, the Chief Minister said his Government would strive to end the VIP culture. Kejriwal said ensuring cheap water and power would be priorities of his Government.
“We are not here to play politics. We are ordinary citizens. We never thought we will fight elections,” he said, adding that corruption and threats to their safety and security forced the “common man” to fight elections.
Kejriwal said the political leaders of this country had made a big mistake by challenging the common man to fight elections. He said corruption by the erstwhile Congress Government and at the municipal corporations headed by the BJP would be probed by his Government.
Lokpal Bill Kejriwal said a strong Lokpal Bill for Delhi will soon be passed to ensure that the corrupt are punished. He said mohalla sabhas will be formed to decentralise the decision-making process. He said his party stood for full statehood for Delhi.
Opposition leader Harsh Vardhan said though the AAP leaders’ claim that they will not take any Government bungalows, the reality is different. He said he was aware that AAP ministers and MLAs had “already eyed” several Government houses contrary to their claims.
Vardhan also pointed out that travelling by Metro was nothing significant as he and several other MLAs did it often, without any publicity.
Congress leader Arvinder Singh advised AAP that it should desist from taking hasty decisions as they may hamper the State’s growth. The Congress leader said his party would continue to support AAP so far it worked for the interests of the people.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in