Returning his warmth Naidu told Kejriwal that he may be a political rival, but not his enemy. "We believe in taking the state further and we will work together," replied Naidu.
A day after AAP's triumph in Delhi, chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal met union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu at his office and discussed various issues with him including that of unauthorised colonies and full statehood for the capital city. Kejriwal was accompanied by party leader Manish Sisodia.
As Naidu and Kejriwal exchanged pleasantries, Kejriwal said to Naidu, "Sir, without your support, I will not be able to do anything for Delhi." In his opening sentence, Kejriwal won hearts of all those present in the room. "Never in my career have I heard a chief minister speak in such humble tone," said a senior bureaucrat present in the room.
Returning his warmth Naidu told Kejriwal that he may be a political rival, but not his enemy. "We believe in taking the state further and we will work together," replied Naidu.
Sisodia did most of the talking on Kejriwal's behalf. In their four points to the urban development minister Sisodia mentioned the development of rural villages, regularisation of unauthorised colonies and land for opening more schools and hospitals. Sources said that statehood for Delhi was discussed only in passing reference.
Naidu mentioned to Kejriwal that the ministry has formed a high level committee for making a plan to decongest Delhi and the ministry's effort to redevelop the slum clusters.
Post Kejriwal's visit, ministry in its self introspection has also come to realise that, if the ministry had played an active role in Delhi in the past nine months, BJP could have been saved from the political rout.
Ever since BJP has come to power in the center, union development ministry has not
made any significant announcement for Delhi. The ministry had managed to extend the cut off date for regularising the unauthorised colonies just days before the election code of conduct was implemented. "Had the union development ministry made some positive announcement a few months earlier, BJP would have had something to offer," said a senior officer who was a part of this meeting.
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