Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay on Sunday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the political situation in Delhi and apprise him of the party leaders’ views on formation of Government in the Capital.
Upadhyay has reportedly conveyed to Singh that all the 29 MlAs did not want re-elections in Delhi and that cobbling together a Government will not be a challenge. Sources said the Home Minister sought to know the reason behind the ‘delay’ in Government formation if the State unit was confident of managing the numbers.
Upadhyay is believed to have conveyed to Singh that the party was awaiting an invitation from lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and that the party’s image could take a hit if it acted desperate to form the Government. After nearly an hour-long meeting with Singh, Upadhyay said the party will decide whether to take a shot at Government formation if it is invited to do so by the lieutenant-Governor. This assumes significance as Jung is likely to send a report to the Centre shortly on the political situation in the Capital.
“No proposal has come to us as yet on Government formation. Whatever will be done will be as per the Constitution. We will take a decision on Government formation if such a proposal comes to us,” the Delhi BJP chief said. Asked how the BJP will manage the numbers as it will require the support of five more MlAs to prove majority in the Assembly, he said the party will respond to the question if it gets an invite for Government formation.
Currently, the BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal’s lone MlA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MlAs to prove majority in the 70-member Assembly. At present the effective strength of the Assembly is 67 with three BJP MlAs being elected to the lok Sabha. BJP insiders claimed that they have support of the rebel Congress and AAP MlAs. The development comes a day after the Congress had paraded all its MlAs before the media to show that all its legislators were firmly with the party and rejected speculation of any possible split.
Sources said Upadhyay conveyed to Singh the reluctance of party MlAs to face fresh elections as they had clearly conveyed this to him in a meeting four days ago. However, a section of the senior Delhi BJP leaders were not in favour of cobbling up a Government arguing that it was better to go to polls as the BJP had come first in 60 of the 70 Assembly segments in the lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, former RSS leader Ram Madhav, who recently joined BJP, denied reports about the RSS asking BJP leaders not to form a Government in Delhi. He said the reports were based on speculation and were ‘incorrect’. On Saturday the BJP had also given indications of re-elections saying the party was ready to face elections.
Waiting in the wings
Upadhyay has reportedly conveyed to Singh that all the 29 MlAs did not want
re-elections in Delhi and that cobbling together a Government will not be
A challenge
Sources said the Home Minister sought to know the reason behind the ‘delay’ in Government formation if the State unit was confident of managing the numbers
Upadhyay is believed to have conveyed to Singh that the party was awaiting an invitation from lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and that the party’s image could take a hit if it acted desperate to form the Government
After nearly an hour-long meeting with Singh, Upadhyay said the party will decide whether to take a shot at Government formation if it is invited to do so by the lieutenant-Governor
This assumes significance as Jung is likely to send a report to the Centre shortly on the political situation in the Capital