By D N Singh
After the Central government brought in the Ordinance to nullify the Supreme Court verdict in favor of the AAP, now the latter is working overtime to gather support in its favour.
The most ardent task is to convince the Congress to support the AAP and in turn the Congress might look to this as an opportunity to settle scores with AAP.
Two things stand out – first, the majority of non-NDA parties appear to clearly support Delhi’s ruling AAP and second, the AAP seems to be making the mistake of banking on the Congress party’s support against the ordinance.
It is easy for any keen observer of politics, it is a near certainty that when this ordinance will be introduced as a bill during the Monsoon session to be held in the new Parliament building, its passage in Lok Sabha will be a mere formality and after a few fireworks it will sail through in the Rajya Sabha too without any difficulty, making it a law in a few months from now.
It is now clear that the majority of non-NDA parties will support the AAP against the ordinance, but numerically that will hardly make any difference in the Parliament. Also, their support is more to do with their rivalry with the BJP, except for Left parties, which though weakened in terms of numbers, take a principled stand on issues of democracy and federalism.
But importantly,the main opposition, the Congress, has found an ideal opportunity in the form of this ordinance to settle its original hatred of the AAP. What else can explain the Congress’ stand that it will consult its state units on the issue? When was the last time that Congress came out with such an absurd statement over a stand to be taken in Parliament?
Whom will the Congress consult? Hardly any.
So the Congress may go out to tame the AAP now regardless of an underway effort for an opposition unity before the 2024 polls. But the Congress has smelt blood and may be in a mood to kill.
