Trying To Bring Together All Oppn Parties: Bihar CM Nitish Meets Arvind Kejriwal Amid 'Services' Row

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and said that it is being tried to bring together all opposition parties in the country.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been meeting other opposition leaders for quite some time suggesting an attempt to put a united front against the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the next year's Lok Sabha elections. On Sunday, he met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal amid an ongoing tussle with the Centre over control of services in the national capital. Kumar questioned the conduct of the BJP-led Union government and called the action of bringing an ordinance 'against the Constitution', adding that they are trying to bring together all opposition parties in the country.

"How can powers given to an elected government be taken away? It's against the Constitution. We stand with Arvind Kejriwal. We are trying to bring together all opposition parties in the country," the Bihar CM was quoted as saying by ANI.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Kejriwal said, "Today, in a meeting with Nitish Ji, he said that he stands with the people of Delhi, on the issue of the Centre bringing an ordinance negating SC order in favour of Delhi. In case the Centre brings this ordinance as a bill, if all non-BJP parties come together it can be defeated in Rajya Sabha. If such a thing happens, it can send a message that the BJP govt will be out in 2024."

The meeting was held at CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence. Nitish Kumar was accompanied by his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

The development comes a day after the Centre on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of the May 11 Constitution bench judgment where the apex court held that the Delhi government has “legislative and executive power over services” in the national capital, news agency ANI reported. This comes after the Centre brought an ordinance yesterday to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority that will have the power to recommend the transfer and posting of all Group A officers and officers of DANICS serving in Delhi.

The Centre on Friday 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.