Centre-Delhi govt tussle: Congress's big dilemma as Kejriwal drums up opposition support

State units warn party's central leadership against making any move that helps AAP

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS : In the midst of efforts to bring opposition parties together in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, the faultlines within the anti-BJP grouping have become evident in the Congress' dilemma over the Centre's ordinance that seeks to neutralise the Supreme Court's order which gave control of the services to the Delhi government.

Congress leaders have welcomed the Supreme Court's May 11 judgment which made it clear that the Delhi government had the powers to legislate and decide on transfer and posting of officers in the capital, except for the areas of land, law and order and police.

However, the party has not been that unambiguous when it comes to the Aam Aadmi Party seeking to make it a national issue and reaching out to various political parties for their support in ensuring that the ordinance does not get approved in the Rajya Sabha.

The party has said that it would take a decision on the issue of the ordinance after consulting its state units and other like-minded parties. The party's cautious rope walk was evident in the tweet posted by K.C. Venugopal, AICC General Secretary in charge of Organisation. He wrote that the Congress believes in the Rule of Law, which was a reference to the party's agreement with the Supreme Court order. He also said, “...at the same time (the party) does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.” This has been interpreted as the Congress' critique of both the BJP-ruled Centre and the AAP government in Delhi.