Amid Centre-Delhi govt tussle, Arvind Kejriwal to meet Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata today
Kolkata/IBNS: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting with his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee here on Tuesday amid the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the government operating in the national capital over share of powers.
Kejriwal, who heads Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is scheduled to hold a meeting with Mamata Banerjee at West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna at 3 pm.
Kejriwal will be accompanied by Chief Minister of AAP-ruled state Punjab, Bhagwant Mann.
The tussle in the national capital, which is a union territory but with an elected government, began after the Centre brought an executive order which overrides the Supreme Court judgement that favoured the Delhi government on transfers and postings of government officers.
Kejriwal, who has emerged as an anti-PM Modi face nationally with the win in Punjab, has found a surprise support from Congress, which ruled Delhi for years but now lost its significance.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal tweeted, "The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to appointment of officers. It will consult its state units & other like-minded parties on the same.
"The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party."
The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to appointment of officers. It will consult its state units & other like-minded parties on the same.
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) May 22, 2023
The Party…
Kejriwal's meeting with Banerjee is key as the latter, an arch-rival of the Centre's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is aiming to group all opposition parties in view of the 2024 General Elections.
Kejriwal's state visit comes after Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met Banerjee to hold discussions on the Opposition's strategy to take on BJP in 2024.
While Kejriwal has always distanced himself from Congress, which ruled Delhi until AAP came to power, Banerjee's stance over the inclusion of Congress in the anti-BJP front has kept on altering.
After proposing the strengthening of the club of regional parties, Banerjee, post Karnataka election results, was all welcome to Congress in the front provided the support is mutual.
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