New Delhi, a state that's not a state

Is Delhi a 'State' or a 'Union Territory'?
The Centre administers a Union territory while a state is governed by its elected government. Delhi is a bit of both. Till 1991 it was a UT with a Metropolitan Council that had limited powers. Then the 69th Amendment was passed changing the set up. Delhi's official name became National Capital Territory of Delhi with a legislative assembly to be elected by citizens, a council of ministers and a CM. The lieutenantgovernor continued as the President's appointee. But certain pow ers given to legislatures were withheld from Delhi making it a special class stateUT.Another example of this is Puducherry . The first Delhi's assembly poll under the new dispensation was in 1993, which BJP won. Congress won the three subsequent elections, and the last one in 2013 produced a hung house.

Why can't Delhi be considered a fullfledged 'state'?

The 69th Amendment laid down why: Legislative powers on everything related to land and public order are with the Centre. In full states, as per the Constitution, these are with state governments.There are other differences too. The Lt Governor is not the head of state, unlike other governors. The CM and ministers are appointed by the President. Parliament has overriding powers over laws passed by the state legislature.

All Delhi land is under Delhi De velopment Authority control. DDA has sole power to acquire or dispose it off. DDA is under the Union urban affairs ministry . Over the years, as Delhi's population exploded and land became a key requirement for settlement, this agency acquired enormous powers.

In Delhi, since public order is not state government responsibility, the Union home ministry runs Delhi Police, one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world.

So, that's it? Some things are run by Centre and some by state government?

It's slightly more complicated. Most civic functions like sanitation, maintenance of roads, certain taxes and tolls, infrastructure, and so on are controlled by mu nicipal corporations after the 74th Constitution Amendment of 1992. The Municipal Corpo ration of Delhi was reorgan ized with a 272-member body after the 74th Amendment.

In 1997, it was won by BJP , in 2002 by Congress and again by BJP in 2007. In 2012, it was trifurcated into North, South and East Corporations, all controlled by BJP . A large chunk of funds to the municipal corporations are provided by the state.

These civic bodies don't have jurisdiction over Lutyens Delhi where residences of ministers, MPs and the diplomatic enclave are located.This island comprising 3% of Delhi's area is run by the unelected New Delhi Municipal Council. An even smaller segment where armed services establishments and residences are located is managed by the Cantonment Board, an elected body.