A major political slugfest erupted in the national Capital with the Aam Aadmi Party dragging Delhi’s lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung into its allegation of ‘horse trading’ by the BJP to form the Government. But the Congress was quick to punch a hole into the AAP’s charges, claiming that it was Arvind Kejriwal’s party that approached it for forming the Government.
The BJP, on the other hand, categorically denied the allegation and party leader RP Singh served a legal notice to the AAP for leveling ‘baseless’ charges. Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay hit back at Kejriwal saying he was the one who ran away from the Government in just 49 days and now he was leveling false allegations against the BJP.
“Having got the opportunity to run a Government, Kejriwal chose to escape from his duties. But now he is accusing other parties with ulterior motives,” he said. Meanwhile, a BJP MlA said it is the widely followed procedure to form a Government when the Assembly is under suspended animation and that the lG had followed the same process while inviting Kejriwal to form the Government in February.
Earlier, amid reports of the BJP trying to form Government with support of rebels in AAP and Congress, Kejriwal targeted Jung, who he claimed, was expected to invite the BJP to form a Government in Delhi. Kejriwal asked whether the lG should not ask for a letter of support of MlAs or else he would be seen as acting in a partisan way.
“Would lG save his chair or the constitution — nation will keenly watch. If a party (BJP) has once already declined the offer to form Government, can the lG invite the same party in the existing Vidhan Sabha
againIJ ... Shouldn’t lG first ask for a list of supporting MlAsIJ Else wouldn’t lG be seen to be acting partisanIJ” Kejriwal added.
He also said that would encourage horse trading if Jung invites the BJP for Government formation. He had also sought an appointment with Jung, but party sources said he was conveyed that the meeting was only possible next Monday.
As developments unfolded, Congress MlA from Okhla Asif Mohammad Khan alleged that senior leaders of AAP were in constant touch with him and also urged him to ‘mediate’ with other Congress legislators.
He said that AAP leader Manish Sisodia had even invited him at his relative’s place in Ghaziabad for ‘talks’. Earlier in the day, AAP had a meeting with its legislators to formulate future course of action.