Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has nominated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi's Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag at the state-level Independence Day event, according to Raj Niwas officials.

This decision follows the refusal of the Delhi government's General Administration Department (GAD) to comply with a directive from Minister Gopal Rai to arrange for Education Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag.

In a written communication, Ashish Kundra, Secretary to the LG, informed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar of the decision, stating, "The Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Minister (Home), GNCTD, Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the National Flag at the State level Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasaal Stadium. Necessary arrangements may be made accordingly."

The move to appoint Gahlot instead of other senior AAP leaders, including Atishi, is likely to exacerbate tensions between the AAP and the LG's office.

While the AAP has claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently in judicial custody, had expressed a preference for Atishi to hoist the flag in his absence, the LG's office has stated that no such communication from Kejriwal has been received. Furthermore, the GAD indicated that the Chief Minister does not have the authority to designate Atishi to hoist the flag on his behalf.

Kejriwal had reportedly sent a letter to the LG last week requesting that Atishi be allowed to represent him at the Independence Day event. However, Tihar Jail authorities, where Kejriwal is currently detained, informed him that using his privileges under the Delhi Prison Rules to send such a letter was inappropriate, and the letter was therefore not forwarded to the LG.

In response to the situation, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia criticized the LG's actions, describing them as "petty politics" on a significant national occasion.

Sisodia remarked, "It is very unfortunate that on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day, such trivial politics is being played." He also noted the disparity in how communications are handled, comparing the LG's prompt action on letters from individuals like conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar with the apparent disregard for Kejriwal's correspondence.

"The elected government or any minister should be the one to hoist the flag. I don't see any reason why this should be a problem," Sisodia added.