Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently visited Delhi as part of his efforts to unite opposition parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. During his visit, he met with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Tejashwi Yadav, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Arvind Kejriwal, who proposed a Rajya Sabha plan that could serve as a “semi-final” before the general elections, called the central government’s move to bring an Ordinance circumventing a Supreme Court order in favor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government “unconstitutional.” Kejriwal expressed gratitude for Nitish Kumar’s support on the issue and stated that they would fight together against this injustice done to Delhi by the central government. He emphasized the importance of opposition parties coming together to defeat the Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, stating that it would send a strong message to the country that the BJP would not be able to return to power in 2024.
Nitish Kumar criticized the central government’s move, questioning how they could strip power from an elected government. He highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling granting the Delhi government the right to work and expressed astonishment at the attempt to take it away. Nitish Kumar pledged support to the AAP and mentioned plans to hold more meetings with opposition parties to unite them in a nationwide campaign against this issue. He stressed the importance of following the rule of law and promoting harmony among people, condemning attempts to create discord among the population. Nitish Kumar also announced his intention to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 23 to discuss the matter further.
Arvind Kejriwal has scheduled meetings with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar on May 24 and 25, respectively, in Mumbai to discuss the plan to block the Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.
Tejashwi Yadav, in his response to the central government’s move, described it as a danger to democracy and expressed determination to prevent any changes to the Constitution.
The central government has justified the Ordinance by stating that having central control over the administration of Delhi will facilitate better engagement with foreign embassies and diplomatic entities, ensuring that national interests take precedence over local considerations.
Government officials mentioned that they received extensive feedback from bureaucrats, particularly those working in Delhi, who highlighted challenges in working efficiently and being accused of siding with the central government. These factors played a significant role in the Centre’s decision.
The meetings between opposition leaders and the collective efforts to block the Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha indicate a growing alliance against the central government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition parties aim to capitalize on issues like the encroachment on the rights of state governments and democratic institutions to challenge the BJP’s dominance at the national level.
