Shakuntala Gamlin ignores Kejriwal; takes charge as interim chief secretary

New Delhi: The tussle between the Arvind Kejriwal government and Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung took another turn on Saturday with senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin taking charge as interim chief secretary following her appointment to the post by Jung.

Kejriwal, meanwhile, said that he was seeking an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee.

"Seeking an appointment with the President to apprise him of Delhi's situation," Kejiwal said in a tweet.

An official, who did not want to be named, said that Gamlin took additional charge as chief secretary.

"Yes, she has taken charge... she is working in her office and is clearing files," the official told IANS.

Jung on Friday gave Gamlin, who was functioning as secretary (services), additional charge of chief secretary of Delhi since incumbent Chief Secretary K.K. Sharma is in the US for personal work.

The AAP government had on Friday accused Jung of 'by-passing' the elected government, the chief minister and the deputy chief minister.

Jung, however, had asserted that he was 'competent' to make the appointment and had expressed regret "that name of senior officer was being brought in public domain in such a manner, that too a lady officer and one belonging to the northeast".