In a strongly worded letter to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of undermining constitutional accountability by failing to table the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The issue has reignited political tensions between the LG’s office and the ruling party, with Saxena calling the omission a “gross constitutional impropriety.”
Highlighting his concerns, LG Saxena stated, “It is unfortunate that the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has consciously chosen not to adhere to this constitutional norm, thereby avoiding disclosure and public scrutiny of the performance of the government.” He referenced Article 151 of the Constitution, Section 48 of the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, and Regulation 210 of the Regulations on Audit and Accounts, 2007, to underline the mandatory nature of laying CAG reports in the Assembly.
The LG noted repeated communications on the matter, including letters to Atishi’s predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, as early as February, and to the Speaker in August. “CAG is mandated not just to ensure financial propriety but to evaluate the efficacy of public expenditure. It pains me to write this communication to a government that won a popular mandate on the plank of transparency and accountability,” Saxena wrote.
The timing of the LG’s remarks—on the eve of the Assembly session and with elections looming—has added fuel to the political fire. Saxena further remarked, “Even as the Assembly reconvenes today—presumably for the last time before elections—the agenda and list of businesses so far do not reflect the laying of CAG Reports pertaining to government departments.”
Responding to the letter, a delegation of BJP MLAs met Saxena, demanding swift action to ensure the AAP government adheres to its constitutional duties. BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri accused the AAP of “running away from transparency,” saying, “This government talks about honesty but refuses to present audit reports. What are they hiding?”
The AAP, however, hit back, with party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar calling the LG’s letter a politically motivated stunt. “The LG is interfering in the democratic functioning of the government yet again. This is a desperate attempt to malign the AAP government before elections,” she said.
Atishi, who also holds the finance portfolio, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. However, political observers view the LG’s move as a strategic escalation in the long-standing power tussle between the LG’s office and the AAP government.
Saxena’s concluding remarks aimed to appeal to Atishi’s credentials: “You are an accomplished public leader with a stellar academic record. I am sanguine that you shall heed my counsel and uphold public trust during the ongoing session of the Assembly.”
With the Assembly session underway and the elections drawing closer, this clash over CAG reports is likely to dominate Delhi’s political narrative in the coming weeks.
