Deliberations have begun within the Delhi BJP to form a Government in the national Capital that is likely to be headed by senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi. Well-placed sources said Independent Rambir Shokeen and lone JD(U) MlA Shoaib Iqbal may support the BJP and negotiations are on with rebel MlAs of Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.
Sources in the BJP said a majority of the legislators are averse to the idea of re-election and the same would be conveyed to the party high command while seeking the go-ahead for Government formation. Senior leaders in the Delhi BJP are tight-lipped over the development but a leader claimed that a clear picture would emerge by this week and the party could stake claim for Government formation by the weekend.
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay refrained from giving any specific answer to the queries but said “all options” were being explored and a decision would be taken after discussions. He said a meeting of all BJP MlAs would be convened in a day or two to discuss the current political scenario. “I have been getting inputs from party leaders over the issue. A meeting of all MlAs and office-bearers will be convened to reach a consensus,” Upadhyay said.
The BJP currently has 29 MlAs in the Assembly whose strength was reduced to 67 after BJP leaders Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma quit the membership of the Assembly post their election to the lok Sabha. In the current scenario, the BJP would require 34 MlAs to prove majority in the House. With support from Shokeen and Iqbal, the BJP would have the support of 31 MlAs; just three short of the magic figure. Delhi is currently under
President’s Rule and without a Government since February this year when the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government quit after a tumultuous run of 49 days. Upadhyay though maintained that election of the leader of the legislative Party will not be on the agenda of the scheduled meeting but said the legislators would be meeting soon to elect their leader.
“Election of the leader of the legislative Party is the sole prerogative of the MlAs. The elected leader will be the Chief Minister,” the BJP president said. However, sources claimed that Mukhi, being a five-time MlA and the senior-most, would be the Chief Minister. This also assumes significance in wake of a long backdoor meeting between Upadhyay and Mukhi at Delhi BJP headquarters on Monday evening. Mukhi had earlier been the Finance Minister in the BJP-led Delhi Government from 1993 to 1998 and also the leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
Some Delhi BJP leaders reportedly also met senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari at his residence on Monday afternoon. Sources said the leaders are understood to have expressed their keenness on formation of Government rather than going to election afresh.
A senior leader said the party was not very keen on going for re-elections particularly in wake of the power crisis and increasing prices of potatoes and onions fearing a backlash. Sources said the Congress, despite suffering a drubbing in the Assembly and lok Sabha polls, has aggressively been taking up the issue of power crisis and recent hike in rail fare and the increasing prices of onions, potatoes and other food commodities. This, according to party leaders, might upset the BJP’s applecart if it decides to go to polls now.