Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Kejriwal's residence to extend support in the ongoing tussle between the AAP government and the Centre over administrative services control.
According to reports by NDTV, the meeting took place after the Centre promulgated an ordinance creating the National Capital Civil Service Authority. The Supreme Court had recently handed over control of services, excluding police, public order, and land, to the elected Delhi government.
Kejriwal expressed his intention to seek support from opposition parties to defeat any bill brought by the Centre to replace the ordinance. He emphasized the significance of the bill's defeat as a message ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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The ordinance, which needs to be ratified by Parliament within six months, establishes the National Capital Civil Service Authority responsible for transfers and postings of Group 'A' officers in Delhi's government.
Kumar criticized the Centre for taking away the elected government's power and assured his efforts to bring opposition parties together in support of Kejriwal. The meeting marked the second interaction between Kumar and Kejriwal in their attempts to unite opposition parties against the BJP before the 2024 elections.
Kejriwal plans to meet other leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar, to discuss blocking the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. The Centre justifies the ordinance by emphasizing the need for central control over Delhi's administration to prioritize national interests.
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(With PTI Inputs)
