After 4 CMs, More Opposition Leaders Back Kejriwal; Cong Missing

The support to Kejriwal by 4 CMs assume significance as it comes amidst the rallying cry for opposition unity.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, AAP leaders Satyendra Kumar Jain and Gopal Rai during a sit-in protest at L-G Anil Baijal’s residence, in New Delhi.

(Photo: Twitter/@AtishiMarlena)

Chief ministers of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala on Saturday, 16 June rallied behind their Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, who has been protesting at the Raj Niwas for six consecutive days demanding that the "strike" by bureaucrats in the city be called off.

At the press conference at Kejriwal's residence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked the Centre to resolve the "crisis" immediately.

The open support to Kejriwal by the four chief ministers assume significance as it comes amidst efforts by leading Opposition parties to stitch together a rainbow coalition ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The developments on Saturday in the national capital drew reactions from all corners of political circles. First, it was Union Minister Vijay Goel, who hit out at the four non-NDA Chief Ministers for backing Kejriwal.

Do these four chief ministers know what led to this crisis? Where were these people when Delhi’s Chief Secretary was being humiliated and assaulted? This crisis began from there.

Vijay Goyal to ANI

While, it was four CMs who visited Kejriwal’s residence, he received support from all the familiar faces of the opposition, except the Congress.

Patidar leader Hardik Patel took to Twitter and said, "The party does not hold importance for me but I stand with Arvind Kejriwal in this battle. It is important for everybody to come together to save the democracy"

Another young leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani wrote: “Be the case of not giving full statehood to Delhi or case of filing false offences against AAP MLAs one can imagine to what extent BJP-RSS will go if they come to power in 2019.”

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah too voiced his support for Kejriwal.

DMK working president MK Stalin wrote that he is "concerned with the disdain shown by Lt. Gov. of Delhi” towards Kejriwal.

Several political scientists and senior journalists talked about the Congress being missing from the action and what the support for Aam Aadmi Party could mean for opposition unity.

To sum it up in a gif: