New Delhi:

As the feud between the AAP and the BJP intensified following the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena wrote to the Union Home Secretary complaining about the “lack of seriousness” among Delhi government ministers when called to attend meetings of the Indian Parliament “. LG’s office.

Mr Saxena’s office claimed there was a lack of cooperation from Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Public Works Minister Atishi were summoned to discuss issues of Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure and “day-to-day governance”.

“… Instead of resolving the issue, (ministers) have indulged in public vilification and refused to meet the Lieutenant Governor on lame excuses…” The local government office criticized Mr Bhardwaj’s response in the letter; AAP leader had “I don’t think (this) meeting can be held without the chief minister’s instructions. Please convey this to the lieutenant governor,” he said.

“The reasons for not attending the meeting appear to be vague and display a lack of seriousness and insensitivity towards issues affecting the daily lives of Delhi citizens,” the local government office declared.

Read | Kejriwal jailed after probe agency says ‘uncooperative’

Two such meetings were held on March 29 and April 2. The AAP leader, embroiled in a bitter tussle with the BJP over Mr Kejriwal’s arrest over the alleged liquor policy scam, did not attend both meetings.

Mr Bhardwaj and Ms Atishi had earlier made “orders” to Mr Kejriwal regarding Delhi’s healthcare and water and sewerage systems, although the AAP boss has been in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate since his arrest on March 21 and was then jailed In Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Read | Kejriwal’s second order comes as AAP sends ‘prison government’ message

In a letter to the Union Home Secretary today, Mr Saxena pointed out the two incidents. The Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the UP leader for running the government from prison and called for his resignation.

The ruling AAP and the lieutenant governor, including Mr Saxena’s predecessor, have traded tit-for-tat on various issues in the past, including in February over the party’s “unreasonable delay in the (Delhi) budget” and in July over the appointment of the head of the municipal power agency.

The current flashpoint is not just 11 days away from the Lok Sabha elections, but also amid the AAP’s protests against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest. The first sitting chief minister to be arrested, he was jailed until April 15 but may get relief when the High Court rules on his petition on Tuesday.

Read | ‘Prisoners under interrogation have no right…’: Arvind Kejriwal bail hearing

For the third time, another bench of the High Court dismissed a plea to direct Mr. Saxena or the Center to remove the Chief Minister. “He (Mr Saxena) does not need our guidance. We have no one to advise him. He will act in accordance with the law,” the court said.

Read | ‘Let democracy take its course’: Petition to remove Kejriwal rejected

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is under pressure to once again sweep all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. Meanwhile, AAP, a member of India’s Congress-led opposition bloc, is busy fighting for its first victory in the Lok Sabha in the national capital.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channel. click the link Get all the latest updates from NDTV in your chat.