| 16 July 2023
In a significant turn of events, the Congress party has finally decided to throw its weight behind the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their battle against the recent ordinance introduced by the Centre pertaining to the control of services in Delhi. This move comes just ahead of a crucial opposition meeting scheduled in Bengaluru. The Congress' decision to support AAP has provided a much-needed boost to Arvind Kejriwal's party, which had earlier threatened to boycott the opposition meeting aimed at forming an alliance against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress has made it abundantly clear that it vehemently opposes the Centre's ordinance on the control of services in Delhi and will actively resist any attempts by the central government to undermine federalism in the country. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal stated, "Our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," firmly expressing the party's position on the matter. He further criticized the central government's approach of governing opposition states through governors, emphasizing Congress' commitment to safeguarding federalism.
While the Congress has extended its support to AAP, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took a swipe at the party, remarking, "The manner in which AAP took up the Delhi ordinance issue at Patna meet was unfortunate." Chidambaram's comments reflect a difference of opinion within the party regarding AAP's handling of the issue during a previous opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23.
Reacting to the Congress' "unequivocal opposition" to the ordinance, AAP leader Raghav Chadha expressed appreciation for the support, terming it a positive development. The Delhi government, which had earlier labeled the ordinance as "unconstitutional," has convened a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to discuss the Congress' announcement. With the Congress openly opposing the ordinance, it is expected that the PAC may decide to participate in the upcoming opposition meeting in Bengaluru.
Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of AAP, had embarked on a nationwide tour to rally support against the Centre's ordinance. Several major opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal United, Bharath Rashtriya Samiti (BRS), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have already expressed their solidarity with AAP in its fight against the ordinance.
The rift between AAP and the Congress surfaced after the Patna meeting, where AAP criticized the Congress for its hesitancy and refusal to act as a team player. The party's statement suggested that it would find it challenging to participate in future meetings involving the Congress unless certain conditions were met. However, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, without explicitly mentioning AAP, affirmed the party's consistent opposition to any encroachment on the federal structure of state governments.
In a recent development, the senior leadership of the Congress held a parliamentary strategy group meeting to discuss key matters to be addressed during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance against the BJP for the next Lok Sabha elections is set to expand, with more parties joining the second unity meeting convened by the Congress in Bengaluru. The initial edition of the meeting witnessed the participation of 15 parties, and now leaders from 24 non-BJP parties have been invited to attend the forthcoming session on June 17 and 18.
The Centre's ordinance, promulgated on May 19, aimed to establish an authority for the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers in Delhi. The AAP government criticized the move, considering it a circumvention of the Supreme Court's verdict on control of services. The ordinance seeks to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to handle transfers and disciplinary actions against Group-A officers, excluding police, public order, and land, which were granted control to the elected government by the Supreme Court on May 11.
The Congress party's decision to lend support to AAP in their fight against the Centre's control of services ordinance marks a significant development in the political landscape. As opposition parties unite to take on the ruling BJP, their collaboration and strategic alliances will shape the course of Indian politics in the lead-up to the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Comments