Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday submitted his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind, citing personal reasons. Baijal, a 1969-batch IAS officer, was appointed as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on December 31, 2016 after the sudden resignation of his predecessor Najeeb Jung.
Baijal had often been at loggerheads with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over several issues. In 2018, the strife between Baijal and the Delhi Government escalated into an ugly confrontation after Kejriwal and his Ministers staged a dharna at Baijal’s office alleging that IAS officers posted with the State Government were not cooperating with elected representatives. There was acrimony over the non-approval of the doorstep delivery of ration scheme by Baijal.
The tense relations between the LG and the AAP dispensation became less frequent after the Supreme Court ruling in July 2018 that states the LG of Delhi is bound by the “aid and advice” of the Delhi Government.
In July 2021 also, the LG and the APP Government were at loggerheads when Baijal overturned the Delhi Cabinet’s decision to appoint a panel of lawyers of its choice to argue cases related to the farmers’ agitation, triggering sharp reactions from Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
There is no clarity about Baijal’s replacement but sources indicated that the Centre may appoint a person with a political background as Delhi's new LG as against a bureaucrat as per a long-standing practice.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, which gave primacy to the L-G over the elected Government, had come into effect in April last year after the notification of the Act by the Union Home Ministry.
In March, speculation about Baijal’s exit was rife after a cryptic tweet by Kejriwal.
“Is Mr Praful Patel, Administrator of Lakshadweep, being made the next LG of Delhi?” Kejriwal had tweeted.
In his long-standing career, Baijal was appointed the Home Secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government. Later, when the Congress-led UPA Government came to power, he was transferred to the Urban Development Ministry.
During his tenure in the Urban Development Ministry, he oversaw the planning and implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). He retired from service in 2006 as Secretary of the Urban Development Ministry. After retirement, he was actively associated with JNNURM launched by the Manmohan Singh Government.
At one time he also served as the Vice-Chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority and was also the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Airlines. During his service, he was also appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Prasar Bharati Corporation, the Development Commissioner of Goa and Counsellor in-charge of the Indian Aid Programme in Nepal.
He has served on the executive council of the Vivekananda International Foundation think-tank and multiple corporate boards including IDFC bank. He has also served as an advisor on the National e-Governance Advisory Group (NAG), Advisory Group for Integrated Development of Power, Coal, and Renewable Energy. He was on the committee on implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Central Government.
