Mumbai: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal revealed on Wednesday that former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has pledged his support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in blocking the government’s special order regarding the control of Delhi’s bureaucrats.
The meeting between the two leaders took place at Matoshree, the renowned residence of the Thackeray family in Mumbai. Joining Mr. Kejriwal were Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as Delhi minister Atishi.
“Uddhav Thackeray has assured us of his support in Parliament. If this bill (ordinance) does not pass, then in 2024, the Modi government will not return to power,” stated Mr. Kejriwal. Mr. Thackeray added, “We have all come together to safeguard our country and democracy. Instead of calling us ‘opposition’ parties, the centre should be labeled as ‘opposition’ because they are against democracy and the constitution.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide campaign to gather support against the centre’s ordinance.
Last Friday, the centre introduced an ordinance to establish an authority for the transfers and postings of Group-A officers in Delhi. The AAP government denounced this move as deceptive, considering the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on control of services.
The ordinance, which followed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant control over services in Delhi (excluding police, public order, and land) to the elected government, aims to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to handle the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.
Until the Supreme Court ruling on May 11, the lieutenant governor held executive control over the transfer and postings of all officers in the Delhi government.
