BJD to support govt on bill replacing Delhi services ordinance

The Delhi Services Bill, which allows the Centre to retain control over the bureaucracy in Delhi seeks to replace an ordinance that the Modi-led government promulgated in May this year

Updated on: Aug 1, 2023, 17:38:06 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday announced that it will support the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance in the Parliament and oppose the no-confidence motion proposed by various opposition parties against the government.

BJD MP Sasmit Patra speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament. (ANI photo)

BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said the party has asked its Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House during the discussion.

The BJD’s support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) in the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance is crucial as the alliance does not have clear majority in Rajya Sabha.

With nine BJD MPs, the NDA tally rises to 109.

In the 245-member house, the majority-mark is 120 as some seats are vacant.

Also Read: Bill to replace Delhi ordinance makes key edits

The opposition alliance INDIA has 108 MPs including 7 MPs of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

The BJP needs 11 more votes to see the bill through and the INDIA coalition needs 12.

The YSR Congress Party with 9 Rajya Sabha MPs is expected to support the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

The Delhi Services Bill, which allows the Centre to retain control over the bureaucracy in Delhi seeks to replace an ordinance that the Modi-led government promulgated in May this year.

The bill overturns a Supreme Court order in May that gave the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government the powers in all spheres except policing, public order, and land.

Reacting on the development, opposition Congress said BJD now stood exposed.

“It is not with the INDIA alliance and has surrendered before BJP,” said BK Patnaik, campaign committee chairman of State PCC.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More