Uncertainty loomed over the already strained ties between the political executive and the bureaucracy in the Delhi government on Monday as the Delhi Police named Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in its chargesheet regarding the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.
After Mr. Prakash alleged that he was assaulted by AAP MLAs during a meeting at Mr. Kejriwal’s residence in February, officers in the government and the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation have been at odds.
As a sign of protest, the officers had stopped taking calls or going to meet Ministers or MLAs, though they would attend meetings of the Cabinet and other statutory obligations.
The AAP had termed this an illegal strike
On Monday, as news broke of the chargesheet being filed in the case, senior officials, both in various departments and those working with the political executive, said the development would not lead to much change as the relations had remained frosty since February 20, the day the FIR was filed in the case.
Soon after the chargesheet was filed, Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Prakash were both invited to an event by the New Delhi Municipal Council. Though Mr. Prakash attended the event, the Chief Minister did not.
A senior official said the Chief Minister’s decision not to attend was not related to the chargesheet or the presence of the Chief Secretary.
Senior officials said that several bureaucrats had given their statements to the police in connection with the case and this had further strained the ties.
A senior bureaucrat said though there was no impact of the chargesheet being filed on the interactions between the officers and the political executive, the officers’ stand appeared to have been vindicated.
Several officers, however, said the work of their departments would not be impacted by the tussle.
Mr. Prakash declined to comment on the matter.
