Even with the nationwide attempts by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to build an alliance against the NCT of Delhi ordinance 2024, the stand of the Congress party is yet to be defined.
( Image Courtesy : India Today )
With the new Ordinance of the central government regarding Delhi on the horizon, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is on a stroll to garner support and form an alliance against it. However the Grand Old Party of India, still has a mixed attitude on the issue, while its state factions in Punjab and Delhi are against the idea.
Delegates of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee led by Punjab PCC President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa held meetings with Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.
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The discussions
(Image Credits : The New Indian Express)
The official word out is that the delegates discussed the party’s standing in Punjab just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The delegates strongly opposed the idea of forming an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party on any front.
Senior party leader Ajay Maken was particular in categorically denying any form of alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party. However, now the decision to support the Aam Aadmi Party or not on the ordinance has been left to party President Mallikarjun Kharge
Sidhu’s opinion
( Image courtesy : The Tribune India)
Punjab Congress leader and former party President Navjot Singh Sidhu was also present at the meeting. He said that the details of the conference are confidential and further updates would be provided by the party leadership. He also expressed his opinion that the Governor should not be given maximum power to dictate the state government.
However, he also stated that an alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Indian National Congress was not possible owing to the large ideological differences between the parties.
Ajay Maken goes against it
( Image courtesy: NDTV. Com)
Senior Congress Party leader Ajay Maken was conclusively against any form of alliance between the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. It has been said that Ajay Maken gave a presentation in the meeting regarding why the bill should not be opposed and Congress should not support the Aam Aadmi Party in this issue.
According to him the move by the party to oppose this ordinance would be to stand against the decisions of Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru and that in a scenario that the bill fails to pass, Kejriwal will receive a privilege which was unavailable to other Chief Minister’s of Delhi before him.
The new ordinance
(Image Courtesy: India Today)
The National Capital Territory of Delhi was created in 1991 through the 69th amendment of the constitution. It was specified in article 239AA(3)(a) that the power to create laws except for matters of public order, land and police would be vested in the hands of the State legislature.
The S Balakrishnan Committee suggested in the year 1989 that the power to administer Union Territories shall be vested in the Union government even after the formation of state governments. However, owing to the lack of clarity on the issue of the constitution the Aam Aadmi Party appealed it in the supreme court in July 2018.
The supreme court ruled in their favour and handed over the authority of civil servants to the state government and instructed the Lieutenant governor to act only on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
To counter this the Central Government, through the Government of NCT of Delhi Ordinance 2024 created the National Capital Civil Service Authority. Even though the Chief Minister of Delhi is its Ex Officio chairman, it would also have the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi and chief secretary as members with equal say. In matters of differences, the Lieutenant governor is referred to and his opinion would be final.
