Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited Delhi to meet with Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, and discuss their opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting also included Tejashwi Yadav, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kejriwal proposed a plan for the Rajya Sabha, which he referred to as a “semi-final” before the general elections.
Kejriwal strongly criticized the central government’s move to bring an ordinance that circumvents a significant Supreme Court order favoring the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government. He deemed the ordinance “unconstitutional” and expressed gratitude for Nitish Kumar’s full support. Kejriwal suggested that if all non-BJP opposition parties come together, they could defeat the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha by turning it into a bill. He believed that this outcome would send a message across the country that the BJP would not be able to return to power in 2024.
Nitish Kumar also condemned the central government’s action, questioning their authority to take power away from an elected government. He expressed astonishment at the move, citing the Supreme Court’s recognition of the Delhi government’s right to work. Kumar reaffirmed his support for AAP and emphasized the need for unity among opposition parties. He stated that they were attempting to unite as many parties as possible and launch a nationwide campaign on the issue. Furthermore, he revealed his plans to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the near future.
Tejashwi Yadav denounced the central government’s action as a danger to democracy and accused them of attempting to change the Constitution. He pledged to prevent such changes from occurring.
The central government justified the ordinance by claiming that the dual authority and responsibility in Delhi endangered security and hindered coordination in the administration of the country. They argued that central control over the administration of Delhi would facilitate better engagement with foreign embassies and diplomatic entities, ensuring that national interests were prioritized over local considerations.
Government officials stated that they based their decision on extensive feedback from bureaucrats working in Delhi. They highlighted the challenges faced by these officials, including accusations of bias toward the central government and inefficiency in their work.
In summary, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have joined forces to oppose the central government’s ordinance on Delhi’s administration. They criticized the move as unconstitutional and expressed their determination to fight for the rights of the elected government. The opposition leaders aim to unite non-BJP parties and launch a nationwide campaign to address this issue.