Amid efforts to garner support against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday met West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.
In the meeting, Mamata assured Kejriwal that TMC would support him against the ordinance.
Kejrwal was accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and Atishi Singh.
The meeting is part of Kejriwal's efforts to mount a united opposition to Centre's ordinance on Delhi. As per the ordinance, the National Capital Civil Service Authority would be set up which essentially overturns a Supreme Court order last week giving control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected government in Delhi.
After their hour-long meeting, Banerjee told newspersons that a forthcoming vote in Rajya Sabha on a bill to convert the central ordinance on control of services in Delhi into law will be a "semi-final before the 2024 elections".
Banerjee told newspersons "we support AAP in the fight against the Central ordinance ...Request all parties not to vote for BJP's law (on controlling appointments in Delhi)".
The AAP has already sought the support of all non-BJP parties saying this is a "time for agni pariksha" for opposition parties, and that they should come together if they want to save the country's democracy and Constitution.
Kejriwal has earlier met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the ordinance issue and the latter has extended full support to AAP in its tussle with the Centre on the matter.
The AAP chief is also likely to meet Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday in Mumbai.
The ordinance has to be ratified by Parliament within six months. For which, the Centre will have to bring a bill for its passage in both Houses of Parliament, the opposition hopes.
(With PTI inputs)
