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If Opposition blocks Delhi ordinance in RS, no Modi in 2024: Kejriwal at Akhilesh meet

  • Somi Das and Alok Singh

    • LUCKNOW: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s message to Opposition parties is clear: the fate of the controversial Delhi ordinance, limiting the Delhi government’s bureaucratic control, lies with a united front, and its obstruction in the Rajya Sabha will have a crucial impact on their electoral prospects in 2024.

    Speaking to the media following a meeting with Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Kejriwal said that he firmly believes that if the Opposition can successfully block the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, it will be a game-changing moment akin to the “semi-finals” leading up to the highly anticipated 2024 general elections, potentially putting the brakes on the BJP’s electoral dominance.

    READ MORE: Delhi services ordinance: CM Stalin to support CM Kejriwal

    “When this ordinance is tabled in Parliament, the Lok Sabha will favor the BJP due to their majority. However, in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP falls short with only 93 out of 238 members. We have the potential to defeat this ordinance. And mark my words, if we succeed, it will be the semi-finals leading up to the 2024 elections. It will send a strong message to the whole country that the Modi government is not returning to power,” emphasized Arvind Kejriwal, underscoring the ordinance’s significance in the Rajya Sabha and its impact on the opposition’s electoral fortunes since 2024 during a joint press conference with Yadav.

    READ MORE: UP Elections 2022: AAP’s Sanjay Singh Meets Akhilesh Yadav, Fuels Alliance Talks With SP

    He was in Lucknow with his colleague and party leaders Atishi and Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann to seek Yadav’s support on Delhi ordinance.

    Akhilesh Yadav, displaying his support for Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), endorsed their stance against the Centre’s ordinance during their joint press conference. Describing the ordinance as undemocratic, he assured Kejriwal that the Samajwadi Party firmly stands alongside him and will extend their support in the Rajya Sabha.

    It is worth recalling that prior to the 2022 elections, Akhilesh Yadav and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engaged in discussions and negotiations to establish a pre-poll alliance. They actively explored the potential of joining forces. However, after thorough deliberation, both parties decided to abandon the alliance plan and proceed with their respective electoral campaigns independently.

    Further back, in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Yadav had expressed optimism about forming a “rainbow coalition” that included AAP. Despite initial talks, the alliance did not materialize due to AAP’s reluctance to enter into a coalition at such an early stage of their political journey, when they were crafting an independent identity. Further, charges of corruption and lawlessness under Yadav’s rule played as deterrent back then.

    Interestingly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s insistence played a role in Akhilesh’s enthusiasm to include AAP. During that time, Kejriwal was already experiencing a strained relationship with the central government and Lieutenant Governor (LG), as he staged a protest against the LG’s actions.

    READ MORE: Kejriwal wants Congress support on Delhi ordinance; seeks meeting with Rahul, Kharge

    Kejriwal has already rallied the support of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin, Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao, Sitaram Yechury, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    Despite Kejriwal’s efforts to reach out to the Congress, his appeal and request for a meeting with Party President Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi have fallen on deaf ears, yielding no fruitful outcome. However, in a previous incident where Rahul Gandhi faced disqualification from the Lok Sabha due to a criminal defamation conviction, Kejriwal had staunchly supported him, vehemently criticizing the Modi government for what he termed as an “act of cowardice.”

    With his ordinance yatra, Kejriwal has transformed the issue into a litmus test for opposition unity against the BJP in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

    The ordinance in question was introduced by the Modi government in response to a Supreme Court verdict granting the Delhi government control over services, excluding police, public order, and land. Its objective is to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to oversee the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. If implemented, it would significantly curtail the Delhi government’s authority over officer appointments and administrative control.

    As the fate of the ordinance hangs in the balance, all eyes are now on the Rajya Sabha and the united opposition’s ability to thwart its passage. If successful, it could mark a pivotal moment in the political landscape, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 2024 general elections and potentially reshaping the electoral fortunes of the opposition parties.

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