'Need an elected govt soon'

While the Delhi Assembly remains under animated suspension, the custodian of the House, Speaker M S Dhir, continues to carry on his work dutifully, day after day.

Of the 67 legislators, Dhir is the only one who is present in the Assembly complex daily.
“My constitutional post does not allow me to take things lightly,” says the 62-year-old Aam Aadmi Party legislator, who represents the Jangpura constituency.

He refrains from making any political comment or attending political functions but insists that he keeps himself updated on the key developments through the media.

For instance, there was this recent buzz about the possibility of a government formation in the capital.

“As the Speaker, I have no role in government formation. It is for the political parties to do it. But it is painful to see media reports talking about possible horse trading,” says Dhir, a former employee of the State Trading Corporation.

“Delhi needs an elected government at the earliest but there should be no horse trading. It sends a very wrong message,” he says.

“An elected government is good for the people as it is directly related to them,” says Dhir, who was active as a students’ leader in Dyal Singh College of the Delhi University.

The legislator from Jangpura is also aware of the difficulty in over government formation in the hung House. “If nobody is able to form a government, it is better that fresh polls are held. After all, it will be good that elected representatives serve the people through the government,” he said.

“This is what the Constitution says,” he adds.

“Ultimately, all the parties have to explore the possibility of government formation. And if nobody is in a position to do so, then a fresh mandate should be sought,” said the first-time legislator.

Dhir believes that the financial burden of a fresh election, within almost one year of the last one in December 2013, is something that will have to be borne by the state as the minimum cost of democracy.

The Speaker says despite devoting time to his constitutional obligations, he has remained connected with the electorate in his constituency. “I am aware of my duties as a legislator. I attend to their problems and am focused on providing drinking water facilities,” he says.

A common complaint of residents of my constituency is that their electricity bills are inflated, says the Jungpura legislator, who was earlier associated with the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The lone politician in the family does not think that his businessman son would ever take up politics.

Ask him about his hobbies and pat comes the reply: “I am interested in news and keeping myself abreast with the latest happenings.”