Addressing a joint press conference with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, NCP chief and Congress ally Sharad Pawar said, “This is not the time for debate, it is the time to save parliamentary democracy.” In your crusade against the May 19 ordinance, you
The NCP chief said it was not an issue limited to Delhi or the Aam Aadmi Party, but a question of safeguarding the power of governments elected to govern. Taking a step ahead, the veteran politician cited his 56 years of experience and said that he would travel to various states to garner the support of non-BJP political parties for the same. “We have to focus on uniting all non-BJP parties. It is our duty to ensure that all non-BJP parties support Arvind Kejriwal,” Pawar said in a clear message to ally Congress, which is yet to take a stand on the Centre’s Delhi ordinance.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Kejriwal said, “I will formally seek an appointment tomorrow (May 25) to meet Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.”
After reducing the Congress to nil in the Delhi Assembly, this is the first time that the AAP chief has publicly and openly sought support from top leaders in the grand old party. Ahead of the 2019 elections, Kejriwal briefly met Rahul Gandhi at Pawar’s residence in Delhi. However, the talks failed as Congress and AAP could not agree on who should contest on how many seats.
Meanwhile, the Left parties that have been with the Congress in Parliament – CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RSP, Forward Bloc – have already announced their opposition to the Centre’s ordinance. In fact, on May 24, he became the first person to protest on the streets against the ordinance. On 25 May, People’s Democracy, the mouthpiece of the CPI(M), called upon the Supreme Court to strike down the ordinance and political parties to unite against it.
“Supreme Court as the guardian of the Constitution has to step in to nullify this draconian measure. At the political level, the entire opposition should unite and oppose the ordinance when it is sought to be made a law in Parliament.”
Taking a special note of the Congress, the CPI(M) mouthpiece said: “The Congress party should stop doubting its stand. Enmity towards Arvind Kejriwal and AAP cannot determine its position. This is not about any one leader or any one party – this is a fundamental assault on democracy and federalism.
Describing it as an indicator of “opposition unity” ahead of 2014, the CPI(M) mouthpiece said: “How unitedly the opposition parties move to oppose the ordinance will have a bearing on unity for the larger fight against the BJP. Ahead.”
In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP and announced her party’s opposition to the ordinance, urging other political parties to do the same. “I appeal to all parties. This is a chance for all of us to come together as the opposition and send a big message across the country that we can defeat the BJP in the Rajya Sabha and get the ordinance rejected.”
Similarly, in Mumbai, former Maharashtra chief minister and Congress ally Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also threw his party’s weight behind Kejriwal. “We all have come together to save the country and democracy. I think we should not be called ‘opposition’ party. In fact, they (Centre) should be called ‘opposition’ as they are against democracy and the Constitution.
Also supporting Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav said, “The way Kejriwal ji is being harassed, we have come to fully support him. The central government is doing injustice especially after the Supreme Court’s decision to clarify everything. They (central government) are discriminating against non-BJP governments in states. They want to change the constitution. Democracy is in danger.”
In fact, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, who is on a mission to unite the opposition against the BJP ahead of the big fight in 2024, has already spoken to Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and extended support to Rahul Gandhi. Influencing to give. Aam Aadmi Party in its fight However, after the meeting, general secretary KC Venugopal tweeted: “The Congress party has not taken any decision on the issue of the ordinance brought against the Supreme Court verdict on the powers of the NCT Delhi government. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on this.”
In an apparent reference to the AAP, the general secretary said: “The party believes in the rule of law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontations, political witch hunts and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.”
The Center has six months to bring the ordinance in the form of a bill in Parliament. It may not be too early to do so. However, pressure from allies, former allies and potential allies is mounting on the Congress party, especially amid talks of opposition unity before 2024. After the 19 Ordinance tour of West Bengal and Maharashtra, he won the public support of JD(U), TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT), Left parties and NCP. Now, the time has come to dial up the Congress party. once again.