As all chances of forming a popular Govt diminish
The Centre is mulling holding Delhi Assembly elections somewhere in December-January after the chances of forming a popular Government diminished. last Delhi elections held in December 2013 had thrown up a hung House. There is a feeling in the corridors of power at Centre that there was no possibility of forming a stable Government in the national Capital. Fresh elections should be held in Delhi to break the deadlock. Delhi has been under the President’s Rule after all political possibilities were exhausted and elections appear to be the only solution for the political logjam.
It would be pertinent to mention here that the BJP had fallen short of the majority and Arvind Kejriwal took over the reins of the Delhi Government with the support of Congress. His Government did not last long as he tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister on February of the current year.
Sources said that lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung reportedly has held several rounds of discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Prime Minister’s office (PMO). In a related development, the Supreme Court also asked the Centre on Tuesday to take a decision on dissolution of Delhi Assembly “one way or another” within five weeks, questioning it for continuing to keep the House in suspended animation when no party is coming forward to form the Government.
Sources said the Centre will convey its decision both to the President and the Election Commission over the next few weeks and the latter would then draw up the poll schedule for Delhi as well. Considering the fact that States like Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand too would be heading for polls later this year there is a strong possibility that Delhi elections too would be clubbed with the three States.
The Supreme Court has observed: “One party says it does not want to form government. Other says it cannot. Third party has no strength. In a situation like this why should people sufferIJ” The court also asked the Centre what steps it has taken to explore the possibility of government formation during the last five months. President’s rule was imposed on Delhi on February 17 with no party coming forward coming forward to stake claim for Government formation after AAP Government headed by leader Arvind Kejriwal resigned.
The BJP which tried various possibilities of forming the Government in Delhi too seems to be of the opinion now that going back to the electorate would be the best possible option. “There seems to be consensus among the Government now that Delhi cannot remain without a Government now and fresh elections should be held,’’ a senior government official said on the condition of anonymity.
BJP had emerged the single largest party after the assembly polls in December last year with 32 seats including ally Akali Dal’s one MlA in the 70-member House.
The BJP fell four seats short of a simple majority and had refused to form Government, saying it did not have the numbers and will not resort to any “unfair means” to take the reins. The AAP with 28 MlAs had later formed the Government with support of eight Congress MlAs. The AAP’s strength has also come down to 27 after expulsion of party MlA Vinod Kumar Binny. The BJP’s number fell down to 28 in the Assembly in May after three of its legislators Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma were elected to the lok Sabha. With the resignation of three MlAs, the strength of the Assembly also went down to 67. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal had earlier met lieutenant Governor and demanded immediate dissolution of Delhi Assembly and conduct fresh elections here.