Bharti writes to Jung over Lekhi's cold shoulder

A livid Malviya Nagar legislator, Somnath Bharti, has written a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung over not being invited to the inauguration of an open-air gym in his constituency’s park by area MP Meenakshi Lekhi of the BJP.

While both the AAP and the BJP appear to be in a race to take credit for the facility, Lekhi denied any malafide intention behind the inauguration and claimed she was invited by the local residents so she went to the event.

Bharti, who is one of the three Delhi Assembly representatives in the DDA, claimed the last week Lekhi threw open the gym in DDA park in Shivalik Colony, close to the Aurobindo College, in a hurriedly convened function.

“I did all the ground work for getting the sanction and other works for the open gym in the DDA district park but the area MP quietly inaugurated it and took the credit,” said the Malviya Nagar legislator.

“I have written a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to inform him about the incident,” said Bharti.
 
The MLA claimed the BJP was resorting to politics on issues related to public welfare projects.
On Sunday, he visited the park along with supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party and tried to tell the morning walkers about his efforts for bringing the gym to the park.

Lekhi, who represents the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency under which the area falls, denied any attempt to sideline anyone.

“The area residents, including my party’s local councillor Satish Upadhyay, called me to the function so I went there,” she said, claiming ignorance about the list of invitees for the informal event.

Asked about Bharti’s allegations that she walked away with the credit for all the ground work he did, Lekhi said: “I am not that petty.”

“What ground work is he talking about. I am also a member of the Standing Committee of DDA. I brought the concept of open air gym to the city – through facilities at Lodhi Garden and Nehru Park,” she said, justifying her presence at the inauguration event as the area MP.
Meanwhile, the DDA is reportedly trying to assuage frayed tempers by assuring a “formal” inauguration of the facility by Bharti.

An aide of the legislator said: “The DDA has written to us to inform that the formal inauguration of the open air gym has not happened yet and whenever it is scheduled, Bharti would be invited.”