Major political developments unfolded on Saturday when Chief Ministers of four Indian states met at the Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi and then sought permission to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, after their discussion at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi, wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
The letter read, “All of us would like to make a representation to you w.r.t the issues concerning the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Please grant us a meeting slot today as we are waiting.” They asked for a time around 9pm on Saturday.
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While Baijal denied them the permission to meet Kejriwal, the four CMs headed to Kejriwal’s residence anyway.
In late night developments, the four Chief Ministers met Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal.
After meeting Kejriwal’s wife, the four Chief Ministers held a press meet.
“There is a constitutional crisis in the country. We had come here for Niti Aayog and it would not have been proper to return without meeting We waited for many hours for the L-G to give permission, but he didn’t. We demand that the PM intervene in the statehood issue immediately,” Mamata Banerjee said.
She also added that they would meet the Prime Minister on the sidelines of Niti Aayog and tell him to solve the crisis in Delhi.
Chandrababu Naidu said, “We were told that the L-G is not at home. Our demand is very simple: sort out the issue, let the elected government work. This is against cooperative federalism."
When asked if they would go to Raj Niwas, despite the LG denying permission, Mamata said, “We are not beggars, we also have dignity. He has denied us permission to meet."
Interestingly, all the Chief Ministers have been vocal about federalism and the need for a federal front in the country. Missing in action was Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao who had been one of the first to mobilise a federal front.
Kejriwal, along with other AAP ministers, has been staging a dharna at the L-G office, which entered its sixth day on Saturday. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain have been on an indefinite hunger strike. The protest is part of the long-standing power struggle between the Delhi CM and L-G. In this instance, AAP has demanded for the IAS officers in Delhi to culminate their undeclared strike and cooperate with the Delhi government.
The four chief ministers are reportedly going in a show of solidarity to the Kejriwal. Incidentally, Kejriwal was present at the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy in May during which opposition leaders from across the country put up a united front.
Kejriwal had also attended the launch of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s political party Makkal Needhi Maiam in Madurai earlier in February.