As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's sit-in protest in Raj Niwas along with three of his Cabinet members goes on for six days, he got support from four of his counterparts on Saturday who said to "have come to express solidarity" with Mr. Kejriwal.
Speaking at a press conference Mamata Banerjee said "there is a constitutional crisis." Pinarayi Vijayan said that "it's not just about Delhi, but about all of India." The leaders have written a joint letter to L-G seeking permission to meet Mr. Kejriwal.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan sought permission to visit Raj Niwas to meet Mr. Kejriwal. They were however denied permission.
The leaders are in Delhi to attend a NITI Aayog summit of Chief Ministers scheduled on Sunday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday, wrote to Prime Minister in favour of Mr. Kejriwal. Mr. Kejriwal himself had written to PM seeking his intervention in resolving what he calls bureaucrats' strike. While the executives have denied Mr. Kejriwal's claims, the latter insists IAS officers are not attending meetings called by him or his Cabinet colleagues.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Ministers Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain at the Raj Niwas waiting room. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai are stationed in Raj Niwas since Monday. Mr Jain is on hunger strike since Tuesday, while Mr. Sisodia refuses to have food since Wednesday. A team of doctors are monitoring them since Friday.