Delhi assembly is geared up for a stormy two-day special session, beginning Wednesday, August 16. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party is likely to raise the issue of the recently enacted Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023.

On the other hand, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is prepared to question the Arvind Kejriwal-led government on various issues, including the alleged mismanagement of the recent floods, and the reconstruction of chief minister’s official bungalow.

According to reports, the House — with 62 members from the AAP, and eight from the BJP — will begin at 11am with obituary references. The list of business of the House did not specify any particular issue to be raised by the AAP.

The House has assembled. The issues to be raised today are removal of 116 fellows engaged under the Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC) fellowship programme, and the water crisis. Under Rule 66, Sanjeev Jha gave a notice to discuss the removal of DARC fellows

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act came into being on Saturday following presidential assent. The law gives the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital and seeks to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers.

 In his Independence Day speech at Chhatrasal stadium on Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Act has snatched powers of the elected government of Delhi and the AAP dispensation will restore them.

AAP leaders were tight-lipped about their strategy for the session. The GNCTD (Amendment) Act 2023 is expected to be a prominent debating point. Sources said the AAP may also raise the issue of suspension of its Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh in the House.

In a joint press conference, BJP MLAs accused the AAP of “undermining” democracy in the assembly. The AAP is making noise over the suspension of its members from Parliament, but it is itself responsible for “undermining democracy” in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the BJP MLAs said.

“In the past three years, BJP legislators have been removed from the assembly 35 times in 16 sessions, revealing a pattern of anti-democratic behaviour,” said Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. The BJP legislators also accused the AAP of “stifling the opposition’s voice” by preventing discussions on notices given by them.