Uddhav Thackeray backs Arvind Kejriwal against Centre's ordinance for Delhi

MUMBAI: After Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called on him on Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray agreed to oppose the Centre's ordinance, which seeks to control the Delhi government's administrative powers, in Parliament.
This came a day after Kejriwal secured the support of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee against the ordinance. Kejriwal is set to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday as part of his nationwide campaign to unite opposition parties against the legislation. The Centre's ordinance was issued days after the Supreme Court upheld the Delhi government's control over the administration.
"Uddhavji has promised to support us in Parliament. This will be a semi-final for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. If the bill is defeated in the Rajya Sabha, the Modi government will not return in 2024," said Kejriwal, addressing a joint press conference after the meeting. He was accompanied by AAP leader and Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Thackeray said the coming year was poll year and was crucial for democracy. "If we miss the train, democracy will disappear from the country," he said.
He also said that parties in the opposition could not be called "virodhi." Thackeray said, "In fact, we are patriots who are fighting for democracy and the Constitution. Those who are opposed to democracy should be called "virodhi," he said.
Speaking about the ordinance, Thackeray said, "In a democracy, the highest respect should be given to public representatives. The Centre's ordinance goes against democracy. Maybe one day, they will stop holding elections in the states and only have them for the Centre. After 2024, they will stop polls altogether."
Meanwhile, Kejriwal said, "This is not a fight for the Delhi government. It is a fight for democracy and federalism."
He said the BJP used three methods to break states ruled by the opposition: offering money to entice MLAs or using Central agencies to coerce them and now using the ordinance route. "They do not want states. Maybe they should just run the country with the prime minister and governors," Kejriwal said.
Referring to PM Modi, Kejriwal said, "How can such a selfish and arrogant leader run the country? The ordinance is a display of arrogance. The Centre is saying - how can the Supreme Court tell us what to do? The Centre has no respect for the courts. Central ministers and leaders abuse judges and refer to retired judges as anti-national."
In a dig at BJP, Thackeray said, "Kejriwal has called on us the second time this year. We know how to form and maintain relationships." Kejriwal responded, "Uddhavji has made us part of his family and we will fulfil this relationship all our lives." Meanwhile, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the meeting and said the venture would not succeed. "I am happy to know they met and are willing to compromise and meet anyone. It shows they need each other against BJP," he said. "They tried this in the 2019 LS polls and in the state polls. It did not succeed then and will not succeed now."