TMC Will Support AAP In Fight Against Central Ordinance: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi.

Banerjee was addressing a joint press conference with Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann after their meeting in Kolkata.

"TMC will oppose the ordinance brought by the Centre against the Delhi government, will urge opposition parties to come together," Mamata Banerjee said addressing a joint press conference with Arvind Kejriwal.

"This government has become a government of the agency, by the agency and for the agency. We fear the Central govt might change the Constitution, they might change the name of the country... They don't even respect the Supreme Court verdicts," Banerjee said.

"I request all opposition parties that if you are willing to work together, don't let a single vote go to the BJP," she added.

Kejriwal said the defeat of the ordinance in Parliament would be like the semifinal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"I thank Didi Mamata Banerjee for assuring us that she will support us in the Rajya Sabha against the Centre's ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi. I believe if this Bill is stopped in Rajya Sabha, then this will be a semi-final for 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Kejriwal said.

Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee have always had good relations. AAP leaders Raghav Chadha, Atishi Singh were also present at the Kejriwal-Mann meeting with Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which is in power in Delhi, has been seeking the support of Opposition parties, urging them to defeat the ordinance brought by the Modi government over the transfer and posting of officials in Delhi.

On Sunday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met Kejriwal at his residence here and assured their complete support to him on the issue.

The Centre promulgated an ordinance on Friday to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and disciplinary proceedings against them.

The centre's move came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services, excluding those related to police, public order, and land, to the elected government in Delhi.

An ordinance has to be ratified by Parliament within six months. For this, the Centre will have to bring a bill for its passage in both Houses of Parliament.

Kejriwal will also seek support from former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Wednesday and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on May 25.