Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday ordered state chief Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to sack Jasmine Shah, vice-chairman of government think-tank, the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDDC), immediately on allegations of using his office for political gain.
According to the administrative order, the DDDC vice-chairman's office has been locked to prevent him from entering the building, which means Shah will no longer be allowed to use his office, his official vehicle, or communicate with staff.
Kejriwal has been directed to ensure Shah doesn't gain access to any kind of privilege and other perks associated with his official position.
The feud between Delhi's LG and the AAP began last month, when Kejriwal appointed Shah as the organization's chief. Just days after Shah took over as the DDDC boss, he was accused of misusing his official position by Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentarian Parvesh Verma, after which the LG issued a notice asking him to provide an explanation.
"While working as vice-chairman of DDDC, Shah has acted as the official spokesman of the AAP for political gains, which is in violation of established procedures," Verma said in his complaint forwarded to the Delhi LG.
Shah, in his reply, said that the LG cannot interfere in the affairs of the DDDC as he has no jurisdiction over it. Kejriwal also defended Shah, declaring that the DDDC has become the "backbone of Delhi's development" under Shah.
Ties between the LG and Kejriwal government have remained frosty with both hurling corruption allegations against each other.
After India's top investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a corruption inquiry into Delhi Deputy State Chief and AAP politician Manish Sisodia on Saxena's insistence, the political outfit hit back at him, calling for a similar probe against him.