News Politics National Kejriwal faces immediate challenge of fulfilling 3 promises

Kejriwal faces immediate challenge of fulfilling 3 promises

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal, set to be the youngest chief minister of Delhi, will face immediate challenge of fulfilling three key promises he made during the poll campaign—passage of Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, cutting power

The power tariff in the city was hiked by 22 per cent in 2011 followed by a 5 per cent increase in February last year.  The tariff was hiked by 26 per cent for domestic consumers in July 2012. The tariff was hiked again by up to 3 per cent in February and further by 5 per cent in July.  Congress has been attacking AAP accusing it of misleading the citizens on the issue, saying it was impossible to slash tariff by 50 per cent.

AAP had also promised to enact Jan Lokpal Bill within 15 days of coming to power. The party said the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill would cover all the officials and employees of Delhi Government, from the chief minister to MLAs.  AAP had further promised devolution of power to the people by setting up Mohalla Sabha which would decide about the development work to be carried out in respective areas.  

In its 50-page manifesto, AAP also said it would construct two lakh community and public toilets in the city, with 50 per cent of them for women, if voted to power.  The party had also promised to make the Yamuna clean by ensuring that no untreated sewage would be discharged.  The party had said it would open 500 new schools but as land is not under Delhi government, it would be interesting to see how Kejriwal realises the promise.  

The AAP had also assured residents of unauthorised colonies that it will regularise the settlements. Officials said it would not be easy to remove bottlenecks for regularising around 1,639 unauthorised colonies.  The party had also proposed to set up a ‘citizen's security force' with special focus on safety of aged, women and children.

AAP had promised to regularise autorickshaw fares twice a year.