New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant-Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung yesterday (Wednesday) started the process to explore possibility of formation of a new provincial government in Delhi.
Jung called on federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the morning and announced his decision to hold consultations with various political parties in this regard.
“In view of the President’s approval to explore the possibility of installing a popular government in Delhi, the Lt Governor would be exploring the possibilities with the leaders of all political parties over the next few days,” LG’s office said.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who heads the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appeared unconvinced and demanded that Jung should call all political parties on Wednesday itself so that his office can inform the Supreme Court today (Thursday) about chances of formation of a government.
“LG says he will call all party meeting in next few days? Why next few days? To seek adj [adjournment] in SC [Supreme Court] tomo [tomorrow]?... We demand that LG shud [should] call all party meeting today itself, take final decision by eve [evening] and inform court tomo accordingly,” Kejriwal tweeted.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the merits of a petition filed by AAP seeking dissolution of the Delhi assembly and order fresh polls to break the deadlock.
Delhi assembly was placed under suspended animation after President’s rule was imposed in February this year following decision of the Kejriwal government, which enjoyed outside support of the Congress party, to quit after being in power for 49 days.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday rapped both the federal government and Delhi LG over their delaying tactics and failure to take a decision either way saying Delhi cannot remain under President’s rule indefinitely after the court was informed that President Pranab Mukherjee had given him nod to Jung’s request to invite the single largest party to form the government.
According to sources in the LG’s office, Jung is expected to invite leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the single largest party in the hung Delhi assembly, soon to ascertain their views.
BJP, however, is both undecided and divided over whether it should form the government if invited formally by the LG.
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay yesterday (Wednesday) said that his party was in no hurry to form the government and added that whatever his party does would be in the ambit of the constitution.
BJP has instructed all its leaders and spokespersons not to interact with media or go for TV debates over government formation in Delhi, indicating the party’s indecisiveness.
Sources say that while BJP’s national president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is Shah’s predecessor are in favour of forming the minority government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not in favour saying it may portray the party as power greedy.
The federal government has taken a stand that since the decision on imposition of President’s rule was ratified by the Parliament and can remain in place till February 16 next year, the apex court cannot overrule Parliament and order fresh polls.
Sources in the BJP said that, while a final decision in this regard would be taken by the central leadership, the party is ready for both the possibility of either forming the government or go in for fresh polls while preparing to contest November 25 by-elections to fill three existing vacancies in the assembly.
With three BJP lawmakers quitting following their election to the Lok Sabha, the effective strength of the 70-member Delhi assembly has come down to 67.
BJP currently has 28 lawmakers and enjoys support of the lone Shiromani Akali Dal lawmaker and will still require support of five lawmakers to cross the simple majority mark. It can theoretically hope to get support of two independents and the only Janata Dal (United) lawmaker, but would still require in indulge in backdoor activities to either break the AAP which has 27 lawmakers or the Congress party which has eight lawmakers.
