Left joins AAP protest against Centre in New Delhi

Meanwhile, Left has also lent support to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal and three cabinet colleagues continued their sit-in protest at Lt Governor Anil Baijal’s office for yet another day.

They have been campaigning since Monday.

They have refused to leave the venue unless Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal orders IAS officers posted in the Delhi government to call off their alleged strike.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have reportedly claimed that the ruling party in the national capital did not take permission for the rally in the city.

Supporting the rally, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "Joining the protest rally to the Prime Minister’s residence today to express serious condemnation over the manner in which federalism, a fundamental feature of our Constitution, is being undermined by this BJP Central government. (1/n)."

"Using office of Governors and LGs, BJP seeks to destabilise non-BJP democratically elected state govts. This is happening with democratically elected govts in Delhi & Puducherry. Governor’s office was used to try & hijack people’s mandate in Karnataka, but this was thwarted (2/n)," he said.

Yechury said: "Governor’s office was used to install BJP governments even after they have lost elections, like in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. The Governor’s office has been misused in Bihar to allow the BJP to enter the govt via the backdoor after losing assembly elections comprehensively (3/n)."

Yechury said: "Such efforts are destroying the already fragile centre-state relations which is the backbone of the federal essence of the Indian Constitution. This must not be permitted. (4/n)."

In the meantime, the IAS officers attended a press conference in the national capital and said they are not on a strike.

Image: AAP Twitter page