Patna: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Friday issued a statement criticising the Congress over its “refusal to denounce” an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi — a development that came minutes after a meeting of the 15 Opposition parties ended.
In its statement, AAP, the ruling party in Delhi, said the several opposition parties had urged the Congress to “publicly denounce the black ordinance”, which it claims, dilutes Delhi government’s control over transfer and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital. According to the ordinance, which was passed last month, the three-member authority for postings will be headed by the Delhi chief minister but will have two central-government appointed officers — the Delhi chief secretary and principal secretary, home department — as members.
“However, the Congress refused to do so,” AAP said in a statement.
Hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the meeting saw several opposition parties, including Congress, NCP and Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), to forge a common front in “national interest” with the aim to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
However, despite the AAP’s statement, several opposition leaders who were present at the meeting told ThePrint that while political parties were largely sympathetic to AAP’s cause, they did not support Kejriwal’s demand that the Congress must announce its decision immediately.
“We said you cannot put a gun to their head and demand a decision. We felt it was not the main agenda at all. (West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee suggested that the AAP and Congress sit together and resolve the issue before the next meeting,” a leader who attended the meeting told ThePrint.
According to an opposition leader, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wanted Congress to announce its decision on the ordinance after the meeting. But when the Congress, the leader said, insisted on taking a call when the ordinance is introduced as a bill in the next Parliament session, Kejriwal expressed his disappointment.
“We will not take any decision which is unconstitutional”, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have said at the meeting.
It was then that Banerjee intervened, according to the leader..
“She took the mic and told both Kejriwal and Kharge to have chai before the Parliament session and sort out the matter,” said the leader.
Last month, Kejriwal had sought time from Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for a meeting to seek support against the Centre’s ordinance. At the meeting, Rahul is learnt to have not spoken about the ordinance.
Rising above differences
Meanwhile, former Jammu & Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah are believed to have reminded Kejriwal about his party’s support for the abrogation of Article 370.
It’s significant to note that when the central government read down Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019, Kejriwal was among the few opposition leaders to voice his support of the move.
“We support the govt on its decisions on J&K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state,” he said in a tweet then.
A leader said that both Mufti and Abdullah, who were both put under detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after the Modi government’s move, said they were “willing to move forward”.
A source also quoted Omar as saying that it may not be possible to take on the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) one-on-one in all 543 Lok Sabha seats — the suggestion made by some leaders — “it should be possible in at least 450 seats, and that was good enough”.
On the other hand, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar is learnt to have made a case for unity despite differences, citing his party’s alliance with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
“Uddhavji and I have been fighting against each other politically for the last 25 years. But we have forgotten everything and come together,” Pawar is believed to have said.
According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi underlined the need to rise above differences and the past.
“Rahul said I have come here without any memories (of the past) and that the Congress will do whatever it takes to keep everyone together,” a source quoted him as having said, adding that the leader also suggested that all parties should start negotiations on a clean slate.
Statewide alliance, common policy — other suggestions at the meeting
According to sources, after Bihar Chief Minister Kumar and his Rashtriya Janata Dal ally Lalu Prasad — the first speakers at the meeting — were done with their speeches, the Congress, by virtue of being the largest opposition party, was asked to speak.
“The Congress was gracious and said that since they’re the largest party, they’ll hear everyone out and speak at the end,” a leader present at the meeting told ThePrint.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M.K. Stalin is believed to have suggested state-specific alliances in addition to a nationwide alliance.
“While alliances would work in some seats, in other seats the entire opposition should support a common candidate,” a source quoted him as having said.
The idea of drafting a common policy document was also floated by Kumar, according to sources. Prasad, on the other hand, said that the biggest party in each state should fight in that state and also appealed to the Congress to be “large hearted”, the sources said.
The meeting ended with lunch at Kumar’s residence. While most leaders ate, Banerjee, who was on a fast, went around to every table to ensure that everyone was eating well.
Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)