Mission Opposition Unity: Nitish Kumar Meets Arvind Kejriwal, Opposses Centre’s Ordinance on ‘Services’

In a show of opposition unity, the Bihar chief minister, who is trying to get all like-minded leaders and parties to contest elections against Narendra Modi’s BJP in 2024, arrived at the residence of his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal.

Kumar, who was accompanied by his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, extended support to Kejriwal and his party AAP against the Centre’s sudden ordinance that stands to nullify the recent Supreme Court order conferring administrative powers with the Delhi government .

Arvind Kejriwal and his party AAP termed the ordinance as ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘clear violation of SC order’

“The government has passed a new ordinance, it is against the SC order. I had a detailed discussion with Nitish ji and he said he is supporting us,” Kejriwal said about his meeting with the Bihar CM.

He said, “Nitish ji is trying to forge an alliance with other opposition leaders and I have requested him that if all opposition parties unite and oppose this bill in Rajya Sabha, it will be a sign for 2024.”

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar said that he talked to Kejriwal about presenting a united front against the BJP in 2024.

“How can the powers given to an elected government be taken away? It is against the constitution. We stand with Arvind Kejriwal. We are trying to bring together all the opposition parties of the country,” Nitish Kumar said.

With Kejriwal’s relationship with the Congress not exactly smooth sailing, Kumar has the task of forging a sort of working relationship between the two as he sees the grand old party as crucial to any opposition unity bid.

The AAP has grown in Delhi and Punjab by capturing what was once largely seen as Congress territory. A section of Congress leaders believe that regaining the constituency is the key to the party’s resurgence in these states and any compromise with it could hamper their plans.

(With inputs from PTI/journalists)