NEW DELHI: Independent MLA Rambeer Shokeen on Monday withdrew his support to the Aam Aadmi Party government, reducing the Delhi government to a minority.
The leader was unhappy with the performance of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. He had earlier accused the AAP of not fulfilling promises made to the people of Delhi.
Shokeen met the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday to formally withdraw his support.
The withdrawal of support has reduced the AAP government's strength in the assembly to 35, one short of majority.
The AAP won 28 seats in the 70-member house in the December 2013 Delhi assembly elections and formed government with the outside support of the Congress, which won eight seats. The BJP won 31 seats and the Akali Dal and Janata Dal-United one each, while an independent candidate was also elected.
Of the AAP's 28 lawmakers, one was elected speaker while Binny was expelled for anti-party activities, bringing the party's effective strength down to 26.
Kejriwal receives flak over his threats of resignation
Earlier the Delhi chief minister faced severe criticism over his threat to resign if the Jan Lok Pal bill is not passed in the assembly. Kejriwal on Sunday had threatened to resign if the Congress does not support his government in passing the legislation.
The Congress retorted by saying the Delhi chief minister wants to run away from his responsibility by threatening to resign.
Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely was quoted by CNN IBN as saying, "Nobody is above the law. The chief minister wants to run away from responsibility. He is finding an excuse. It is a shrewd tactic."
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Harshvardhan said his party won't let the Delhi chief minister "resign and run away".
He tweeted on his Twitter account, "BJP will not allow Arvind Kejriwal to resign and run away. We are committed to fight corruption and support Jan Lokpal. Send a copy to us. Arvind Kejriwal ji, you have made such a hue and cry about Jan Lokpal everywhere but have not sent a copy to members of assembly. Stop drama. BJP has never opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill but the way political drama is being enacted by Kejriwal by insulting constitution and the laws."
JD (U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal too warned the Kejriwal government. He was quoted by CNN IBN as saying, "Arvind Kejriwal is not bigger than the law. We are not going to tolerate it if the AAP continues to disrespect the law."
Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party government has 27 members in the 70-member assembly and is propped up by the Congress's eight members and two others, on Sunday that he did not join politics to become the chief minister.
Answering queries at a function, he said the central government's permission was not needed to pass the Jan Lokpal bill.
He said his government intended to get Jan Lokpal and Swaraj bills passed in the assembly session, for which dates have already been suggested. The latter aims at decentralisation of power and provides for the formation of empowered "mohalla sabhas".
The two bills would be tabled in the assembly Feb 13, Kejriwal said, adding that his government intended to get the Jan Lokpal bill passed at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Feb 16.
He contended that the constitution provides that Delhi government can pass any law except those relating to police, law and order and land, and there was no need to send the Jan Lokpal bill to the central government for prior clearance.
The AAP government and the Congress Friday seemed headed for a showdown over the Jan Lokpal bill, with Kejriwal saying the central government's okay was not needed, while the Congress reiterated that it would not support the bill as it was "unconstitutional".
The BJP also had attacked the AAP government for trying to push it "in an unconstitutional manner".
The differences came out in the open after the Solicitor General reportedly told Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung that the bill needed to be referred to the central government.
The AAP government has written to the home ministry seeking withdrawal of its 2002 order which directs the Delhi government to take approval of the ministry before passage of any bill in the assembly. (With inputs from agencies)
The leader was unhappy with the performance of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. He had earlier accused the AAP of not fulfilling promises made to the people of Delhi.
Shokeen met the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday to formally withdraw his support.
The withdrawal of support has reduced the AAP government's strength in the assembly to 35, one short of majority.
The AAP won 28 seats in the 70-member house in the December 2013 Delhi assembly elections and formed government with the outside support of the Congress, which won eight seats. The BJP won 31 seats and the Akali Dal and Janata Dal-United one each, while an independent candidate was also elected.
Of the AAP's 28 lawmakers, one was elected speaker while Binny was expelled for anti-party activities, bringing the party's effective strength down to 26.
Kejriwal receives flak over his threats of resignation
Earlier the Delhi chief minister faced severe criticism over his threat to resign if the Jan Lok Pal bill is not passed in the assembly. Kejriwal on Sunday had threatened to resign if the Congress does not support his government in passing the legislation.
The Congress retorted by saying the Delhi chief minister wants to run away from his responsibility by threatening to resign.
Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely was quoted by CNN IBN as saying, "Nobody is above the law. The chief minister wants to run away from responsibility. He is finding an excuse. It is a shrewd tactic."
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Harshvardhan said his party won't let the Delhi chief minister "resign and run away".
He tweeted on his Twitter account, "BJP will not allow Arvind Kejriwal to resign and run away. We are committed to fight corruption and support Jan Lokpal. Send a copy to us. Arvind Kejriwal ji, you have made such a hue and cry about Jan Lokpal everywhere but have not sent a copy to members of assembly. Stop drama. BJP has never opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill but the way political drama is being enacted by Kejriwal by insulting constitution and the laws."
JD (U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal too warned the Kejriwal government. He was quoted by CNN IBN as saying, "Arvind Kejriwal is not bigger than the law. We are not going to tolerate it if the AAP continues to disrespect the law."
Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party government has 27 members in the 70-member assembly and is propped up by the Congress's eight members and two others, on Sunday that he did not join politics to become the chief minister.
Answering queries at a function, he said the central government's permission was not needed to pass the Jan Lokpal bill.
He said his government intended to get Jan Lokpal and Swaraj bills passed in the assembly session, for which dates have already been suggested. The latter aims at decentralisation of power and provides for the formation of empowered "mohalla sabhas".
The two bills would be tabled in the assembly Feb 13, Kejriwal said, adding that his government intended to get the Jan Lokpal bill passed at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Feb 16.
He contended that the constitution provides that Delhi government can pass any law except those relating to police, law and order and land, and there was no need to send the Jan Lokpal bill to the central government for prior clearance.
The AAP government and the Congress Friday seemed headed for a showdown over the Jan Lokpal bill, with Kejriwal saying the central government's okay was not needed, while the Congress reiterated that it would not support the bill as it was "unconstitutional".
The BJP also had attacked the AAP government for trying to push it "in an unconstitutional manner".
The differences came out in the open after the Solicitor General reportedly told Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung that the bill needed to be referred to the central government.
The AAP government has written to the home ministry seeking withdrawal of its 2002 order which directs the Delhi government to take approval of the ministry before passage of any bill in the assembly. (With inputs from agencies)
