Four non-BJP chief ministers meet to discuss strategy to support Kejriwal, seek appointment with L-G

In a bid to put pressure on the Centre and BJP, four non-BJP chief ministers met in New Delhi on Saturday and discussed a strategy to provide support to protesting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who wants IAS officers to end their non-cooperation with his government.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee attended a meeting at Andhra Bhawan with her counterparts Pinarayi Vijayan from Kerala, HD Kumaraswamy from Karnataka and N Chandrababu Naidu from Andhra Pradesh.

The four also wrote to Baijal, saying they would like to make a representation to him ‘with respect to issues concerning Kejriwal’. They have sought an appointment for 9 pm tonight.

They met shortly after Delhi’s Lt. Governor Anil Baijal declined permission to Banerjee to meet Kejriwal. She had planned to go to the protest site — Lt. Governor’s residential office — along with Naidu.

Informed sources said the four CMs were planning a strategy on how to strengthen Kejriwal’s hands.

On denial of permission by the Lt Governor, Kejriwal tweeted: “I don’t think LG can take such a decision on his own. Obviously, PMO has directed him to refuse permission. Just like IAS strike is being done at PMO’s instance.

“We live in a democracy. Can PM deny CMs of other states to meet CM of another state? Raj Niwas is no one’s personal property. It belongs to the people of India.”

We live in a democracy. Can PM deny Hon’ble CMs of other states to meet CM of another state? Raj Niwas is noone’s personal property. It belongs to the people of India. https://t.co/bB0w9OeDrV

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 16, 2018

Baijal earlier denied permission to Banerjee for meeting her Delhi counterpart who is on a protest at the Lt Governor’s office-cum-residence, Raj Niwas.

“Permission denied by LG. Extremely sad state of affairs,” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha tweeted.

Kejriwal followed it up with: “This is getting more and more bizarre...”

Minutes before Chadha had tweeted: “West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asks LG to let her meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal this evening at 8 p.m.”

Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Cabinet ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, is camping at Raj Niwas since Monday demanding a direction to the IAS officers working in the Delhi administration to end their undeclared strike.

He also wants the central government to approve his government’s proposal to deliver ration to the poor at their houses.

The West Bengal chief minister is in Delhi to attend the fourth Governing Council meeting of the Niti Aayog scheduled for Sunday.