In another blow to AAP, Chandrababu Naidu's TDP announces support for Delhi services bill

Chandrababu Naidu's party pledged support to the bill, despite being a former opponent.

The TDP, which parted ways with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2018 and brought a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, now plans to vote in support of the Centre against the Opposition's no-confidence motion.

With three MPs in the Lok Sabha and one MP in the Rajya Sabha, the TDP's support will boost the Centre's tally, which was already set to have the NCT Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023 cleared by Parliament.

This means that both the regional parties of Andhra Pradesh, the ruling YSRCP and the opposition TDP, are now supporting the Centre. The support also means a huge blow to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

On Tuesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal pledged support to the Centre over the Delhi services bill.

Earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party, which has nine members in Rajya Sabha and 22 in Lok Sabha, announced its support to the government on the critical bill.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) bill replaces an ordinance for the control of Delhi's bureaucrats, which was issued by the Centre to override a Supreme Court order that said the elected government in Delhi, not the Centre, has control over the transfer and appointments of bureaucrats.

While the  BJP and allies in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have 103 members, the support from BJD, TDP and YSRCP will take the number to 127.

Around 109 MPs comprising those from the 26-member opposition alliance INDIA, and some Independents such as Kapil Sibal, are expected to vote against the bill.