The political logjam in the national Capital intensified on Thursday with the BJP declining to form a Government in Delhi citing lack of clear mandate in Delhi Assembly.
Despite emerging as the single largest party with 32 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the BJP said it was not in a position to form a stable Government as it required at least four seats to win the majority.
After the BJP declined, lieutenant-Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung invited Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal to meet him on Saturday for discussions.
Earlier, leader of BJP’s legislative party, Dr Harsh Vardhan conveyed to the lieutenant-Governor that the BJP would prefer sitting in the Opposition.
Vardhan met Jung on Thursday evening after he was invited by the l-G to discuss the possibilities of forming a Government in the Capital.
As events unfolded on the day, re-election in the national Capital has become inevitable as both parties have expressed their reluctance to provide Delhi with a stable dispensation.
With the BJP making its stand clear, the pressure is now mounting on Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party which has also been shying away from forming the Government despite unconditional support being offered by the Congress.
Further, the BJP on Thursday also assured that it would consider all proposals if the Aam Aadmi Party sought BJP’s support to provide Delhiites with a stable Government.
“The BJP will certainly cooperate if any other party expressed its willingness to form government in Delhi. The reluctance of the Aam Aadmi Party is known as not only it is averse to support any party but it has also refused to seek external support to form the government,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan, after his meeting with the lieutenant Governor at Raj Niwas.
After BJP’s refusal, the lieutenant Governor has invited Arvind Kejrial, leader of the second largest party AAP, to discuss if his party was keen to form government. However, the AAP was quick to react saying it also lacked majority in the House and it was beyond its capacity to form the Government.
“We lack the clear mandate from public. Being the largest party, it is the responsibility of the BJP to form government. We have received l-G’s invitation. We will be meeting him on Saturday,” said AAP leader Manish Sisodia. A crucial meeting of AAP legislators and other leaders will take place on Friday to decide on the future course of action.
After his nearly 45-minute meeting with Jung, Vardhan said the l-G on instructions from the President of India had given seven days time to prove majority on floor of the House which was practically impossible. “Since the BJP lack majority, we have decided to sit in the opposition and serve the people. It has not been BJP’s policy to poach into other political parties or indulge in any unethical practice. In such circumstances, we are left with no option but to recuse from forming the government. We will definitely form the government if the public bestows clear mandate on the BJP,” Vardhan said as he apologised to the Delhiites for his party’s inability to provide a government in the State.
“The people of Delhi have mandated the BJP to form the government. As a result of this, the BJP emerged as the largest party. But for want of clear majority, me and my party has preferred to serve as the Opposition on the moral grounds,” Vardhan said in the letter handed over to the l-G. He, however, maintained that the BJP was not responsible for the current political scenario. “If the present circumstances are pushing Delhi towards re-election, the BJP is certainly not at fault. We are prepared for any eventuality,” the BJP leader said after the meeting.