Congress to not support Centre's Delhi ordinance; backs AAP
In a major development, the Congress on Sunday said that it was opposed to the Centre's controversial Delhi ordinance, essentially backing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital. After the first joint opposition meeting in Patna last month, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's AAP said that unless the Congress denounced the ordinance, it wouldn't be part of any joint opposition front.
Why does this story matter?
This development comes just a day before the second joint opposition meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday. The ordinance reportedly invalidates the Supreme Court order on May 11 that transferred the control of services in Delhi to the elected government—excluding public order, police, and land. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre allegedly seeks to put bureaucrats above the Delhi CM.
AAP to join opposition meeting in Bengaluru: Venugopal
Expressing expectations of the AAP joining the Bengaluru opposition meeting, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, "As far as the Delhi ordinance is concerned, our stand is very clear, we are consistently opposing the attempt of the Union government to sabotage federalism." "We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition-ruled states through the governors," PTI quoted him saying.
Video of Venugopal addressing media
This is positive development: Raghav Chadha
On the other hand, Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Raghav Chadha called the grand old party's decision to oppose the BJP-led central government's Delhi ordinance a "positive development." Expressing his thoughts, he took to Twitter and said, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi ordinance." "This is a positive development," Chadha added.
Twitter post by Chadha
Here's how Omar Abdullah reacted
Like Chadha, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also backed the move by the grand old party and said, "Exactly what the Congress president had conveyed and committed to the AAP leadership when we met in Patna." "The Congress was unequivocal about their stand with regard to the ordinance," he further stated.
Significance of Congress backing AAP against Delhi ordinance
It's worth noting that nearly all opposition parties had extended their support to the AAP-led Delhi government and opposed the Delhi ordinance. After much deliberation, the Congress has also clarified its stand on the matter. With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections less than a year away, this move by the grand old party might also have a major impact on the general elections.
Next opposition meeting to have 8 new parties: Sources
Ahead of next year's much-anticipated Lok Sabha polls, the opposition parties have sought to form a united front to dethrone the ruling BJP. According to NDTV, at least eight new parties will be participating in the second joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday. Reportedly, these parties include former BJP allies Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK).
