Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Maan meet Uddhav Thackeray; to call on Sharad Pawar

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann called on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. They will also meet NCP President Sharad Pawar during their two-day visit to Mumbai.

Mumbai (Maharashtra):Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann embarked on a two-day visit to Mumbai to seek support from opposition parties against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital. As part of their efforts to unite opposition parties before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal and Mann met with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra.

The meeting between Kejriwal, Mann, and Thackeray is significant, as it signals an attempt to form a united front against the Centre's ordinance. The leaders discussed the implications of the ordinance and the need for opposition parties to join forces. Prior to their meeting with Thackeray, Kejriwal and Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The leaders discussed the ordinance and sought Banerjee's support in opposing it. Banerjee emphasized the need for opposition parties to stand against the ordinance.

Kejriwal further said the people of Delhi have "got support" from Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress will oppose the Bill that the BJP-led government will bring in Parliament to replace its ordinance on control of services in the national capital. He said after the meeting that if the bill related to the ordinance is not passed in Rajya Sabha, it would be a semifinal of the next year's Lok Sabha elections. In a tweet on Wednesday, Kejriwal thanked Mamata Banerjee for her support.

"The people of Delhi got the support of Mamata Didi yesterday. When the Modi government will present a bill in Parliament against the people of Delhi, the TMC will oppose it in favour of the people of Delhi. On behalf of the people of Delhi, I thank Didi from the bottom of my heart," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal's nationwide tour aims to rally support from opposition parties against the ordinance, which grants the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) the final say on the posting and transfer of bureaucrats serving the Delhi government. The ordinance was introduced by the Modi government in response to a Supreme Court order on May 11, which allowed Kejriwal and his ministers to have control over officials deputed to the Delhi government.

The bone of contention between the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the Centre is the establishment of the National Capital Civil Service Authority. Under this authority, the chief minister would be the sole representative of the elected government, responsible for the transfer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) cadre officers, as well as disciplinary proceedings against them. In addition to their meetings with Thackeray, Kejriwal and Mann are scheduled to meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at the Yashwantrao Chavan Kendra in Mumbai. These meetings are crucial in building a united opposition front against the ordinance.

The AAP has also announced plans to hold a 'maha rally' at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on June 11 to protest against the ordinance. Kejriwal and Mann's visit to Mumbai is part of their larger campaign to garner support and create awareness about the implications of the ordinance. This meeting follows a series of similar interactions, including Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's meeting with Thackeray and the meeting between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, and Thackeray. Nitish Kumar had stressed the importance of opposition parties uniting.

The outcome of these meetings and the subsequent united opposition campaign against the ordinance will likely shape the political landscape in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition parties' ability to come together on this issue will determine their collective strength and impact on the central government's policies and decisions.