Delhi's wish list for new govt

On a wet evening in July 2024, as rain beat down on the national capital, a group of students preparing for the Indian civil services exams were studying in the cramped basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar.

- Saurya Sengupta

NEW DELHI: Soon, a gush of water swept into the basement from the flooded street, killing three of them within minutes.

Dismay swept through the city. But as residents demanded accountability, the elected government, civic body and administration enmeshed themselves in a bitter back-and-forth.

Who was to blame? The city sought answers, but the unrelenting finger-pointing meant none was on offer. Delhi was locked between the divergent government, lieutenant governor and bureaucracy, as it has been for much of the past five years.

The election results declared on Saturday held out hope that this quagmire could be remedied.

With both arms of government—the elected administration and the lieutenant governor—now under one party, ordinary citizens feel acrimony may be replaced by discussion, blame game by dialogue, and that the city's government may now speak in one voice on the issues hobbling the Capital.

"Policies and projects have, over the past few years, come to a near stop because of the government and LG bickering. We have been the victims of this back-and-forth," said Namita Relan, an engineer who lives in Karol Bagh. "I just hope authorities get on the same page and work for the city."

What ails governance in Delhi?