Delhi's Services Ordinance
The Congress high command seems to be in no hurry to extend its support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the “Delhi Services Ordinance” when it comes up for voting in the Rajya Sabha. The Modi government had brought the Ordinance last month to negate the Supreme Court's judgment empowering the Delhi government to take decisions regarding posting & transfers of officers once they are placed at the disposal of it.
Kejriwal has been traveling across the country to seek the support of all non-BJP parties. Since the BJP-led NDA does not command a clear majority in the Rajya Sabha, their support is vital. The TMC, DMK, JD (U), TRS, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, RJD and others have extended their support. However, the Congress is taking time in deciding its stand as its leaders in Delhi and Punjab are strongly opposed to lending support to Kejriwal. In both the states, the Congress got a humiliating drubbing from the AAP. Be it senior Congress leader Ajay Maken in Delhi or Pratap Singh Bajwa in Punjab, both have strongly opposed the AAP.
Bowing to their wishes, the Congress high command has put on hold its decision as Parliament's Monsoon session is expected to be held in late July. A senior office bearer of the Congress said that the party will take “an appropriate decision at an appropriate time”. The Congress is keen to bring all Opposition parties together. “We will cross the bridge when it comes” said the leader. The party wants AAP to clear its stand on seat-sharing issue in the Lok Sabha polls next year. Secondly, the Ordinance can be defeated only when BJD, YSR-Congress and others support it in the Rajya Sabha.
