The fate of the Delhi ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament in India, remains uncertain. The Congress party emerges as a crucial variable in Arvind Kejriwal’s equation to gather opposition support against the ordinance.
While Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are making efforts to rally support from various opposition parties, the Congress party’s stance on the issue will significantly impact the outcome. The Congress holds a considerable number of seats in the Rajya Sabha, and its support or opposition to the ordinance could tilt the balance.
Kejriwal recognizes the importance of Congress’s position and has likely reached out to its leaders to garner their support. If the Congress party decides to oppose the ordinance and aligns itself with Kejriwal’s efforts, it would strengthen the opposition’s stand against the central government.
The Congress party’s decision will depend on various factors, including its assessment of the ordinance’s impact, its political strategy, and its relationship with the AAP. The Congress leadership will carefully weigh the potential consequences and consider the larger political landscape before taking a stance on the matter.
The final outcome in the Rajya Sabha will be determined by the voting pattern of different parties. If a majority of the opposition parties, including the Congress, unite against the ordinance, there is a possibility of defeating it. On the other hand, if the opposition remains divided, it might prove challenging to overturn the ordinance.
Therefore, the Congress party’s position holds significant importance in determining whether the Delhi ordinance will pass the Rajya Sabha test or face resistance from the opposition, led by Kejriwal and the AAP.
To rally support against this ordinance, Kejriwal plans to visit West Bengal and Maharashtra, where he aims to engage with leaders from the Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray. Raghav Chadha, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP, accompanies Kejriwal on this tour. The AAP intends to extend their outreach to all non-BJP-ruled states and establish personal connections with opposition leaders.
Prior to this tour, Kejriwal has already met with Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar from the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), and Tejashwi Yadav, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Both leaders have publicly expressed their support for the AAP government. Additionally, Left parties have announced a demonstration on May 24 to demand the withdrawal of the ordinance.
However, Kejriwal’s meetings with opposition leaders serve a dual purpose. Besides seeking support against the ordinance, he is engaging with Nitish Kumar to unite all opposition parties. Kejriwal believes that if all non-BJP parties join forces and the central government presents this ordinance as a bill in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament), they can defeat it. He sees this battle as a significant prelude to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stating that if the bill is defeated, it will send a strong message across the country that the BJP is losing its grip on the upcoming elections.
