Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is actively seeking the support of opposition leaders to unite against the central government’s bill regarding control over Delhi bureaucrats in the Rajya Sabha. During a visit to Mumbai, where he met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Kejriwal announced that he has the support of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. Kejriwal emphasized that the BJP’s actions are creating a dangerous situation for the country and called it a matter of national concern rather than just opposition politics.
Kejriwal has already met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, much hope is placed on his meeting with Sharad Pawar, a highly respected veteran leader in the opposition camp. It is speculated that Pawar’s assistance may be crucial in persuading the Congress to support the Rajya Sabha strategy.
During a joint press conference with Pawar and NCP leaders, Kejriwal acknowledged Pawar’s significant stature in the country and requested his help in garnering support from other political parties. Pawar, in turn, stated that Kejriwal should seek support by engaging with non-BJP parties, including Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), emphasizing the need to save democracy.
Kejriwal expressed his intention to meet with Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, indicating his efforts to bring the party on board. The Congress has not yet disclosed its stance on the matter and has stated that it will confer with its regional leaders before making a decision. However, the Delhi unit of the Congress has been at odds with Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and senior leader Ajay Maken has been critical of the AAP.
Gaining the support of the Congress is essential for AAP to secure victory in the Rajya Sabha battle, as AAP currently holds 31 seats in the upper house. The Trinamool Congress has 12 MPs, the NCP has four, Shiv Sena (UBT) has three, and AAP has 10 MPs. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently has 110 seats, close to the majority mark of 119. Therefore, the support of non-aligned parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the YSR Congress will become crucial if all opposition parties come together.
The central government recently passed an ordinance that overrides a Supreme Court order, granting control of Delhi bureaucrats to the elected government. The ordinance establishes a National Capital Civil Services Authority responsible for the postings and transfers of bureaucrats serving in Delhi. While the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Principal Home Secretary will be members with voting rights, the final decision-making authority lies with the Lieutenant Governor.
This development follows an eight-year-long dispute between the central government and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, which began when the Services department was placed under the control of the Lieutenant Governor in 2015. The bill related to this issue is expected to be introduced in parliament during the monsoon session, and the BJP is confident of its passage in both houses.
