Shiv Sena (UBT) has promised support in fight against Centre's ordinance, says Kejriwal

Delhi CM meets Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann interact with Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut | Amey Mansabdar Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann interact with Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut | Amey Mansabdar

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has promised support to Delhi government's fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

Kejriwal, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, AAP Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, and Delhi minister Atishi, met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut was also present at the meeting.

Addressing a joint press conference with Thackeray after the meeting, Kejriwal said the BJP was trying to topple the state governments using CBI and ED.

The AAP leader claimed that the Sena has promised to support the party to defeat a bill which the Centre is likely to bring in to ratify the ordinance, in Rajya Sabha. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has three members in the upper house.

“This will be like a semi-final in the Rajya Sabha. If the bill is defeated in the Rajya Sabha, then the Modi government will not come back to power in 2024,” Kejriwal said.

Further targeting the Centre, the chief minister alleged that the BJP government, through the ordinance, has taken back all the powers given by the Supreme Court. In a democracy, power should vest in the elected government as it is accountable to people, but the BJP neither believes in democracy nor the Supreme Court, he said.

Extending support to the AAP leader, Thackeray said they have come together to defeat forces that are against democracy.

“We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution,” he said.

The Centre on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

Kejriwal met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday and the latter has promised support to the Delhi government's fight against the ordinance.

The Delhi CM is likely to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had met in Kejriwal in Delhi and assured his support to the AAP over the issue. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, too, have extended support to Kejriwal in his fight against the Centre's ordinance.

With PTI inputs

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