People need a Government, sooner than later
Nobody wants the administration in Delhi to remain at a standstill, nor is it in the interests of any serious political party to maintain the suspense over Government formation in the State. Unfortunately, the situation that developed after the Aam Aadmi Party Government resigned after its brief and unforgettable 49 days in power, has led to an impasse, with no political party able to break the deadlock of the hung Assembly since February when the Delhi Assembly was placed under suspended animation. Neither the Bharatiya Janata Party nor the Congress nor the Aam Aadmi Party has the numbers to form the Government, nor does one seem to have the backing of the other to shore up the figure in the House. But many observers and politicians have felt that the parties must attempt to strike some sort of understanding in a bid to give the people of the State a stable regime and put governance back on track. After all, Delhi had gone to poll for the Assembly barely eight months ago, and it would entail a huge expenditure to conduct another election on the heels of the last one. On the other hand, there are others who believe that given the circumstances, the only way out is a fresh election. That would also be keeping with the spirit of democracy where Governments should be formed through popular will, and not with the help of opportunistic post-poll alliances or by breaking a rival party’s legislative wing. The continuing stalemate led to an ironical situation where the Aam Aadmi Party, which is primarily responsible for the deadlock, approached the Supreme Court, challenging the presidential order of keeping the House under suspended animation. Now that the court on Tuesday has given five weeks' time to the Centre to makes up its mind, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government has to take a call either way. The good thing about the ultimatum is that the people of Delhi will know soon whether they will have a Government now or an election.
The Aam Aadmi Party has gone to town claiming that the BJP was shying away from an election because it was scared of losing to the former. It also claimed that the BJP was trying to break other parties to increase its strength in the Assembly. AAP leaders, as is usual with them, did not provide any evidence to back the allegation. On the other hand, the BJP has been maintaining that it is ready for any eventuality, including facing the voters for a decisive mandate.
If the BJP expresses itself in favour of a fresh poll, it is accused of “failing” to win over support from others; if it claims it can form a Government in the State, it is slammed for “horse-trading”. As for the Congress, the party has become an irrelevant factor, having been reduced to less than double-digits in the Assembly and scoring zero in the parliamentary election. Incidentally, it must assume blame for the sorry state of affairs in the State, because it colluded with the Aam Aadmi Party when the latter formed the ill-fated Government.