New Delhi: In a meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab told him that there should not be any alliance with AAP in Delhi over the ordinance issue, according to sources.
They also told Kharge that the party should not be seen standing with Arvind Kejriwal on the issue of the Centre's ordinance on the transfer of Delhi officials, sources revealed.
However, the leaders have left it to the high command to take a final decision.
The development came after Kejriwal on Friday said that he has sought time from Kharge and Rahul Gandhi over the ordinance issue.
Notably, Kejriwal is seeking support of Opposition parties against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi.
Earlier on Monday, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said: “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 and 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.”
In the past week, the AAP supremo has met several leaders from different parties seeking support in Parliament against the BJP and many have extended support to him.
On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of the full support of the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha against the Union government's ordinance to negate the Supreme Court's order handing over administrative services in the national capital to the elected government there.
Apart from Banerjee, several other ministers including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar have extended their full support to Kejriwal.
The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will Delhi Chief Minister, along with Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, and Home, to make recommendations to the LG regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance, and other incidental matters. However, in case of a difference of opinion, the decision of the LG shall be final.
On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the LG is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land.