A day before being sworn-in as chief minister, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal gave Delhi a sneak preview of his style of governance when he got NDMC officials, including Secretary Vikas Anand, to accompany him to mohalla sabhas in his own New Delhi constituency. Urging people to list their problems, he directed officials there and then to find solutions.

"The oath-taking ceremony will happen tomorrow but I have come here to fulfil the promise that I made to you. I have not come here alone, I am accompanied by officials of the NDMC. Your problems will be heard by us and solutions will be given here," Kejriwal told a crowd at the first mohalla sabha in Mandir Marg on Friday evening.

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At these meetings, NDMC officials were asked to respond to complaints from people on a range of issues from irregular water supply to contract jobs, accommodation shortage to muster rolls, referral system to maintenance of parks, even security.

Gopal Mohan, AAP member who was Kejriwal's poll campaign manager in New Delhi constituency, said: "We had informed the NDMC on Thursday about the programme. We told them that under the AAP government, this is how things will be done. Decisions will not be made behind closed doors."

Other than Secretary Anand, an executive engineer, two junior engineers, and two HR officials of the NDMC were present at these sabhas, Mohan said.

The Valmiki Society Housing Colony on Mandir Marg, where Kejriwal began his poll campaign, was the venue for the first "mock mohalla sabha".

While final demarcation of areas which come under each mohalla sabha will take place only after the AAP's Swaraj Bill is passed, "mock mohalla sabhas" were held at three places on Friday Mandir Marg, Kalibari Marg and Raja Bazar.

At Raja Bazar, Kejriwal said: "The idea behind these meetings is to send a message these officers have to come to you to look at your problems. Decisions will not be made behind closed doors now. They will happen in consultation with all of you."

At Mandir Marg, a man walked up to Kejriwal and said: "Our children have not been able to find employment despite being educated. Some have paid up to Rs 15,000 to be on the muster rolls. Their jobs have still not been regularised."

As more complaints poured in, Kejriwal turned to Secretary Anand: "I have understood the problems in the area. I request the Secretary to answer these questions. Why can't contractual employment be regularised Why don't you close down the muster roll system Why can't you do away with the referral system and bring back the earlier system"

Responding to the list of queries, Anand said that until 2006, only those who had completed 600 days could get regular jobs. The procedure for regularisation, he said, was as per a court order. But Kejriwal said he saw no reason why those on muster rolls after 2006 could not be regularised.

"The system of muster roll should be done away with. We should also put an end to contract employment. On housing and compensatory employment, I will have to look at the law books and come back to you," Kejriwal said.

The meetings also saw NDMC officials shifting the onus for some projects on other agencies. Responding to this, Kejriwal said, "I understand the problem. The NDMC says that the CPWD is to blame, the CPWD says that the Delhi Police is to be blamed. Give me some more days, we will make all these officials sit together or come here to solve these issues."

On the issue of water shortage, he said, "The NDMC gets around 600 litres per capita per day. If the aam aadmi does not get water, the ministers' houses will also not get water."

One mohalla sabha saw residents complaining about a high-mast light waiting to be repaired for weeks. "A high mast light does not take one month to get repaired. Till when will you get the work done," Kejriwal asked Anand. On being told that it usually takes a month with all formalities but it would be done in 15 days, Kejriwal told the residents, "If it does not get done in 15 days, please inform us. Action will be taken."