Services: BJD to support Modi govt over Delhi Services Bill, oppose no-confidence motion | India News

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD government in Odisha will oppose the no-trust motion moved by opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A against the Narendra Modi government and will also support the Delhi Services Bill, the party announced on Tuesday.

“The Biju Janata Dal has decided to support the passing of the Delhi bill. And we will be opposing the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition parties. A three-line whip has been issued by the party to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to remain present in the House and do the needful,” BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra said. The BJD has 12 members in the Lok Sabha and nine in Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up the no-confidence motion discussion against the Narendra Modi government between August 8 and 10. The Delhi services bill or the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is aimed at replacing an ordinance that overrides an apex court directive giving the Delhi government control over most services.

Notably, the BJD had in March 2021 staged a walkout along with other opposition parties during the passing of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha, saying that it undermined the authority of an elected government.
Even as the BJP continues to be the main political rival of the ruling BJD in Odisha and the two former allies, who had formed a coalition government in the state from 2000 to 2009, are at loggerheads in the run up to the 2024 elections,
But BJD has supported Modi’s several big decisions and policies, including demonetisation, GST, CAA, triple talaq, RTI amendment and revocation of Article 370.
In May this year, Naveen declared that he wouldn’t be part of any third front and that his party, BJD would go it alone in the 2024 general election.
In February 2022, Prime Minister Modi heaped praises on Naveen in the Rajya Sabha for being at the forefront of reforms and for excellent implementation of central schemes in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Congress reacted sharply to the latest development. “BJD which claims to have an equidistance policy from BJP and Congress stands exposed. Naveen and Modi share the same political ideology. For them, power remains the ultimate goal,” Congress state president Sarat Pattanayak said.