AAP-Dominated Delhi Assembly Likely to Vote Today Against Centre's Circular

The Delhi Assembly, heavily dominated by Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, will discuss and vote on a resolution that declares a central government order curtailing the powers of the Delhi government as "illegal and unconstitutional".

The private member resolution moved by lawmaker Somnath Bharti requests the President to use his powers to exempt Delhi from the Home Ministry order and also seeks to complain to all parliament MPs.

At the end of the two-day emergency session today, Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will make an intervention in the Assembly.

Mr Kejriwal will also address the AAP rally at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital, called to attack the Modi government, which completed one year in office on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, AAP legislators took turns to criticise the Narendra Modi government for its order in the Assembly. AAP lawmaker Adarsh Shastri demanded that the Constitution be amended to give state legislatures the power to impeach governors.

Moving a resolution against the Centre's order of May 21, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said it had encroached upon the rights of the Delhi assembly. The Centre was "unconstitutionally trying to impose President's Rule in Delhi," he said.

The Centre's notification last week gave Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung the final say in transfers and postings of bureaucrats.

But the AAP government got a shot in the arm when the Delhi High Court observed that the Lt. Governor must act on the advice of Delhi's council of ministers.

It was the appointment of key officers that instigated the extreme tug-of-war between the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor earlier this month. Mr Jung said Mr Kejriwal has no role to play in the assignments of bureaucrats.

Mr Kejriwal says that encroaches into his right to determine his team. Strengthened by the High Court's observations, the chief minister transferred nine bureaucrats on Monday to new positions.