The Congress made it clear on Sunday that it will ‘not support’ the Centre’s ordinance on the control of services in Delhi, a major fillip for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has termed it ‘a positive development’.
A day before the scheduled meeting of Opposition leaders in Bengaluru, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance, our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it.” The Congress further affirmed their refusal to endorse any attempt at sabotaging the country’s federal system or intervening in state matters through governors.
Responding to the announcement, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, “Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development.”
Venugopal expressed hope that the AAP would now participate in the upcoming meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru.
Following the announcement by Congress, AAP declared its participation in the opposition meeting scheduled for Monday.
During their initial gathering in Patna on June 23, the opposition parties collectively pledged to unite against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the significant opposition meeting led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, AAP leaders were absent from the joint press conference held at the meeting’s conclusion, indicating fissures within the opposition’s unity front.
In AAP’s statement, the party had said that unless the Congress publicly condemns the “black ordinance” and commits to having all 31 of its Rajya Sabha MPs oppose the ordinance, it would pose challenges for the Aam Aadmi Party to engage in future meetings with other like-minded parties where the Congress is involved.
13 Parties Supporting Delhi Ordinance?
In a statement following the Patna opposition meet, AAP noted that out of the total 15 parties in attendance, 12 hold representation in the Rajya Sabha. All parties which are represented in the Rajya Sabha have unequivocally expressed their opposition to the “black ordinance” and announced their intent to oppose it in the Rajya Sabha.
Kejriwal has been actively engaged in a nationwide campaign, meeting various opposition leaders, heads of opposition parties, as well as chief ministers from states like Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Up until now, Arvind Kejriwal has garnered support from parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, Shiv Sena (Uddhav), JDU, RJD, JMM, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, SP, TRS and BRS.
Congress
The Delhi and Punjab units of the Congress had urged the central leadership to support the Centre’s ordinance, a move which was seen to impact unity efforts, as Arvind Kejriwal has made his stance clear. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had stated that discussions on opposing or proposing measures take place within Parliament, and all parties decide collectively on the issues they will work on together. Kharge said decisions regarding opposition or acceptance of certain matters would be taken before the commencement of Parliament, involving around 18-20 parties.
After months of obscurity, Congress on Sunday finally announced it will oppose the ordinance amending the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
Samajwadi Party
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters in Lucknow, where they held a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party. Following the meeting, the three leaders conducted a joint press conference, during which Akhilesh Yadav expressed his party’s support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Yadav firmly stated, “The Delhi (Services) Ordinance is anti-democratic…Samajwadi Party is standing with the AAP in this fight.”
Shiv Sena (UBT)
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at the Centre saying they (the opposition) are coming together to “save the country and democracy”. Thackeray met Delhi chief minister Kejriwal and assured him of support in Parliament over the ordinance. “I think we should not be called ‘opposition’ parties in fact they (Centre) should be called ‘opposition’ since they are against Democracy and Constitution,” Uddhav Thackeray added.
Trinamool Congress
Kejriwal successfully obtained the backing of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in opposition to the Centre’s introduced ordinance. Assuring her support, Banerjee stated that it would provide an opportunity to “defeat the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.” She further added, “We support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their battle against the central ordinance… I appeal to all parties not to vote for the BJP’s law.”
JDU and RJD
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has assured “complete support” to Kejriwal from JD(U) in the ongoing face-off with the Centre over the control of administrative services. Kumar remarked that the actions of the Centre were “strange” and “baffling.” He questioned how the power of an elected government could be stripped away. The leader of Janata Dal (United) mentioned that Kejriwal is performing commendable work in Delhi, and it is surprising that his government is being hindered from carrying out its tasks. He emphasized the need for all opposition parties in the country to unite, stating, “That’s why we are saying that all (opposition parties) in the country should come together.” Kumar was accompanied by his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the Centre of creating a crisis in the non-BJP ruled states and said that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would strongly oppose the Central ordinance. The Centre is creating a crisis to the Aam Aadmi Party and is preventing a duly elected government from functioning independently. Despite the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the AAP government, the Centre brought the ordinance. The DMK will strongly oppose it,” Stalin said.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha announced support to the AAP in opposing the Centre’s ordinance on control of administrative services in Delhi after a meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren in Ranchi.
NCP
Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Mann and other AAP leaders met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. After the meeting CM Kejriwal said that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has expressed full support to the AAP-led Delhi Government in its ongoing conflict with the Centre.
Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanta Party
The BRS (Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanta Party) has thrown its support behind Delhi Chief Minister on the issue. Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, held a meeting with BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad to garner his party’s support.
TRS
Telangana CM and TRS supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao, known for being a strong critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has lent his support to Kejriwal and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance by the Centre.
CPI
Delhi Chief Minister Kejirwal announced support from Communist Party of India against the ordinance issue following a meeting with CPI General Secretary D Raja.
Delhi Ordinance
In May, the central government led by the BJP introduced an ordinance regarding the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, effectively undermining a Supreme Court ruling that granted the elected government in Delhi control over matters related to services. The ordinance aims to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to oversee the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Prior to the Supreme Court’s verdict on May 11, the transfer and postings of all officers in the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor.
(With inputs from agencies)
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