Services Row: Arvind Kejriwal Likely To Meet Mamata Today Amid Row Over Centre's Ordinance

Kejriwal will also meet Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Wednesday and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to drum up support over the Centre's ordinance on administrative services.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Arvind Kejriwal

Source : Getty Images

Amid a bitter tussle with the Centre after it promulgated an ordinance seizing back the control over bureaucracy, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday to drum up support. The meeting comes at a time when Banerjee has been holding talks with several Opposition leaders to form an alliance of non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

According to AAP sources, Kejriwal will meet former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Wednesday and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on May 25.

Last week, Kejriwal met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and the JD(U) leader extended "complete support" to him in the AAP's ongoing face-off with the Centre over the control of administrative services.

The meeting was the second between Kumar and Kejriwal in over a month. Kumar had earlier met Kejriwal in Delhi on April 12.

Kejriwal said he would meet leaders of various parties to drum up support over the issue. "If the bill is defeated in Rajya Sabha, it will send out a message that the BJP will lose the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It will be the semi-final of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Kejriwal had said.

Moreover, AAP has also announced plans for a 'maha rally' on June 11 against the Centre's "black ordinance".

"This black ordinance has made it clear that the BJP-led Centre will impose dictatorial decisions like this on the country. Therefore, the AAP has decided to launch a campaign against it along with the people of Delhi. On June 11, the people of Delhi will gather for a 'maha rally' at Ramlila Maidan to express their anger against this ordinance," AAP's Delhi convenor Gopal Rai said at a press conference.

Days after the Supreme Court ruled that Delhi government had executive power over "services", including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Centre last week brought an ordinance making the Lieutenant Governor the final arbiter in the matter.

A 'National Capital Service Authority' has been established through an ordinance to make recommendations to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters.

The body will comprise of the Delhi Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of Delhi government. "Provided also that in case of difference of opinion, the decision of the Lieutenant Governor shall be final," the order read.