In a row with the AAP over flag-hoisting on August 15, Delhi lieutenant-governor VK Saxena has picked city government home minister Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the national flag at the Delhi government’s Independence Day celebrations on Thursday.

The issue over the unfurling of the flag had fanned the flames of conflict between the L-G and the AAP as chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in a corruption case, picked education minister Atishi to do the honours in his absence.

Soon after the L-G nominated Mr Gahlot to unfurl the flag, both the AAP and BJP welcomed the decision. The AAP said: “This move honours the principle of democracy by choosing an elected representative over an appointed one, reinforcing the importance of the people’s mandate in our governance.”

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said at a time when the CM is in jail, the L-G is the authority to decide and he has rightfully nominated a senior minister to hoist the flag.