Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Services Bill in staggering win for BJP

In an audacious move, the Rajya Sabha passed the “Delhi Services Bill” on Monday. This represents a monumental victory for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they snatched control over the reins of Delhi’s bureaucracy. The sensational twist unfolded as the bill set out to overwrite an existing ordinance regarding the delegation of transfers and postings within the Delhi government’s ranks.

Lok Sabha Echoes with Approval, Rajya Sabha Erupts in Drama

After cruising through the Lok Sabha with a voice vote on Thursday, the bill faced its litmus test in Rajya Sabha. The tension was palpable as the government hadn’t yet secured a clear majority in the upper echelons of the parliament. But against all odds, the bill came through with a spectacular 131 votes in favor, leaving 102 opponents in the dust.

The battleground saw Home Minister Amit Shah championing the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Indirectly echoing Shah’s sentiments, the bill is projected as a beacon for transparent and unsullied governance in India’s capital.

But the plot thickened as resistance brewed among the opposition ranks. The INDIA and BRS factions cried foul, denouncing the legislation as a breach of democratic and federal values. Their vehement objections painted the bill as a glaringly “undemocratic and unconstitutional” maneuver.

BJP’s landmark victory: Control over Delhi bureaucrats now in central hands. Image courtesy of BestGraphics_Com from Pixabay.

Allies Turn the Tide, Opposition’s Dramatic Gambit Falls Short

Despite the resistance, the tide turned in BJP’s favor as Naveen Patnaik’s BJD and the YSRCP threw their weight behind the bill. This masterstroke neutralized the opposition’s theatrical attempts, which included a poignant appearance of former PM Manmohan Singh, wheelchair-bound, and an unwell Shibu Soren.

Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, expressed indirect dismay, insinuating that the PM blatantly disregarded the Supreme Court’s mandate and the people’s voice. Painting a grim picture, Kejriwal labeled the bill’s passage as a dark chapter in democratic India.

Yet, Home Minister Amit Shah retorted indirectly that the contentious bill, in no way, contradicted the Supreme Court’s previous judgments.