AAP to push statehood referendum

The AAP government appears to be heading for another face-off with the Centre over the holding of a referendum on grating full statehood to Delhi. There are indications that the AAP government will vociferously debate the issue in the coming 10-day Delhi Assembly session, that starts on Wednesday. Once the Assembly puts its stamp on the proposal, the government plans to initiate the process of holding a referendum on full statehood.

A high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is learnt to have decided on this three months ago, and set November as the deadline for finalising plans. The government intends to make full use of technology with the help of updated electoral rolls in the same polling stations. The city government’s revenue wing will be tasked with anchoring the referendum process, it is learnt.