Kejriwal hires Chidambaram as lawyer

The decision of the Delhi government to appoint P Chidambaram as its lawyer for a Supreme court case has prompted the Congress to dig out strained past between the former union home minister and the Aam Aadmi Party.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken promptly brought out the irony in the Delhi government decision recalling that Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal had always targeted the then Union Minister Chidambaram during his anti-corruption campaign.

Chidambaram will represent the Delhi government in its petition before the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court ruling that the Lieutenant Governor as the administrative chief of the national capital.

Maken took to Twitter to to congratulate Chidambaram. "Congratulations! @PChidambaram_IN -You have been exonerated by your one time critic @ArvindKejriwal and AAP!"

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit was scathing in his criticism. "Kejriwal abuses Mr Chidambaram as corrupt to suit his naked ambitions, then uses him as a 'great lawyer'. Ethics anybody," said Dikshit, a former MP from East Delhi.

While senior Congress leaders refrained from questioning Chidambaram for taking up the job, AAP insisted that "there have been previous instances where political leaders have fought legal cases in favour of their political adversaries."

Senior AAP leader and former MLA Jarnail Singh, who had hurled a shoe at Chidambaram at a press conferece, was inducted into the party after the incident. Chidambaram too has on several instances hit out at Kejriwal, more recently on the CM's remark about turning Delhi into London.

Asked about Chidambaram's assignment, AICC senior spokesman Kapil Sibal said he did not comment on professional matters. "These are professional matters and I do not comment on professional matters," said Sibal, himself a leading counsel and a former Union Law Minister.

An AAP spokesperson said Chidambaram had taken the legal brief on behalf of the Delhi Assembly Speaker two years back.

"Kejriwal has finally fallen onto the feet of Chidambaram," said Maken.