JE News Desk: A day before the Maha opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Congress has finally put an end to all the speculation and decided to extend its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its fight against the ordinance brought by the Centre in the control of services on Sunday. This endorsement comes as a significant boost for the AAP, who had previously threatened to boycott the crucial opposition meeting scheduled for the following day, aimed at forming a united front against the ruling BJP in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in an interview with news agency PTI.

In response to this development, AAP leader Raghav Chadha affirmed, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is is a positive development."

Meanwhile, AAP has called for a meeting at 4 in Delhi today to decide on their participation in the meeting tomorrow.

Omar Abdullah, part of Opposition unity, said, “Exactly what the Congress President had conveyed & committed to the AAP leadership when we met in Patna. The Congress was unequivocal about their stand with regard to the Ordinance.”

Earlier, Shiv Sen UBT faction leader Sanjay Raut said that Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray will participate in the opposition meeting that is going to take place in Bengaluru. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is also expected to participate in the second meeting of opposition leaders.

About Opposition Meet In Bengaluru

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meeting of the opposition grouping being convened by Congress, on June 17 and 18, aimed at taking on the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

This meeting convened by the Congress, is the second such unity meeting of opposition parties, the first edition in Bihar's Patna on June 23, saw the participation of 15 parties.

About Delhi Ordinance Row

On May 19, the Central government promulgated the ordinance to establish an authority responsible for the transfer and posting of IAS and DANICS officers in Delhi. The AAP government criticized this move as a circumvention of the Supreme Court's verdict regarding the control of services in Delhi.

The ordinance aims to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to oversee the transfer and disciplinary actions against Group-A officers. Before the Supreme Court's verdict on May 11, the transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government fell under the executive control of the Lieutenant Governor.