The Empty Chair: Kejriwal's Latest Tango with the Assembly Privileges Panel

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Another political twist in the bustling capital, it seems. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a figure never far from the headlines, found himself in a rather peculiar spotlight this past Friday, March 22nd. Or, perhaps more accurately, he found himself not in the spotlight, as he conspicuously failed to appear before the Delhi Assembly’s Privileges Committee.

It’s a familiar dance, isn't it? A high-profile politician, a summons from a legislative body, and then… a no-show. The committee, in this instance, was eager to question him regarding a rather sensational complaint. You see, the accusation—lodged by a group of rather persistent BJP MLAs, as one might expect—points to the alleged illegal construction of something quite unsettling: a ‘Faansi Ghar,’ or a gallows house, within the confines of his official residence. Honestly, it sounds like something out of a political thriller, doesn’t it?

Now, this wasn't just a casual invitation, mind you. The Privileges Committee had, in truth, dispatched two previous notices, gently nudging the CM to make an appearance. But for the latest summons, the one for last Friday, Mr. Kejriwal cited the ever-convenient ‘pre-scheduled engagements’ as his reason for absence. A busy man, no doubt, but one can’t help but wonder about the hierarchy of those engagements when a legislative panel is knocking, especially on such a weighty matter.

And so, the plot, as they say, thickens. What becomes of a legislative body when its summons are, shall we say, sidestepped by the very leader it seeks to question? The Privileges Panel is now left to ponder its next move. Will there be further notices? Stronger actions, perhaps? It's a fascinating, if not a little concerning, display of the delicate push-and-pull between executive power and legislative oversight in our democratic framework.

This isn't just about a building, or even an alleged illegal construction; it's about accountability. It’s about the respect due to institutions and, frankly, the expectations citizens hold for their elected representatives. And here we are, watching this unfold, waiting to see, honestly, what the next act in this intriguing political drama will bring. One thing’s for sure: the cameras will be ready.