Congress in a fix over supporting Kejriwal against Centre’s ordinance

Severe differences within the Congress continue to simmer over the Delhi ordinance promulgated by the Centre. While the party president, Mallikarjun Kharge and general-secretary (organisation), K.C. Venugopal seemed to toeing the AAP supremo, Arvind Kejriwal’s line of “opposing” the ordinance on the floor of the House, senior party leaders, Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit Punjab Congress legislature party leader Partap Singh Bajwa are against joining ranks with the AAP. The state leaders of Punjab, Haryana, Goa and Gujarat have also aired their disapproval of ‘toeing’ Mr Kejriwal’s line in parliament.

Sources say former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is also against the idea of going with Mr Kejriwal. But senior leaders feel that Opposition unity is also important for the Congress.

These leaders feel that Mr Kejriwal has the ability

SOURCES SAY former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is also against the idea of going with Mr Kejriwal. But senior leaders feel that Opposition unity is also important for the Congress.

to eat into the Congress vote share without giving anything back to the party. Punjab Congress leaders claim that backing Mr Kejriwal in the Parliament may eventually lead to an alliance in the state in the Lok Sabha elections. They further added that if AAP and Congress get into an alliance the BJP will occupy the position of the principal Opposition party diminishing the Congress.

Urging the high command not to go with the AAP Punjab CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa said, “AAP and Arvind Kejriwal deserve no sympathy or support from the Congress. AAP in Punjab has launched a ruthless witch hunt against Punjab Congress leaders and made their lives hell by unleashing police and investigating agencies.” The Punjab leader also charged the AAP of being the B team of the BJP.

In the last couple of days Arvind Kejriwal has been able to get the support of Opposition parties like JD(U), RJD, TMC,SS UBT, NCP in his favour to oppose the ordinance. He has been invoking Opposition unity. The Congress is in a conundrum as to how to tackle the issue on the floor of the house. If they break ranks from the Opposition they will be seen standing with the BJP. Insiders claim that the Congress may even abstain from the vote as its vote is unlikely to have an impact in the final outcome of the vote. As per the official position of the Congress it has not yet taken a final decision on the ordinance issue. In the last couple of weeks the AAP has been supporting the Congress on several issues for the sake of opposition unity.

The Congress is expected to clear its stand on the issue in the coming days.