Kejriwal Gets Akhilesh Yadav's Support In Delhi Govt Vs Centre Ordinance Row

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday offered his support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his fight against Centre's ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.

Kejriwal has been reaching out to leaders of non-BJP parties to garner their support against the ordinance so that the Centre's bid to replace it through a Bill is defeated when it is brought in Parliament.

"If non-BJP parties come together then this ordinance can be defeated in Rajya Sabha and it will send a strong message that the Modi govt is not coming to power in 2024. I thank SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who has assured us that his party will support us in Rajya Sabha," Kejriwal told reporters.

"The ordinance is anti-democratic. I want to assure CM Arvind Kejriwal that Samajwadi Party is with you and will support you: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi," Akhilesh said.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Atishi accompanied Kejriwal at the meeting.

The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government. It seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the top court's May 11 verdict.