l-G set to advise dissolution of Assembly as parties refuse to form Government
After eight months of confusion and stagnation in terms of development works, the national Capital on Monday finally got a clear indication to go for fresh polls. lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung is likely to recommend the dissolution of the Delhi Assembly to hold fresh elections in the national Capital which has been under President Rule since February.
Top sources in Raj Niwas told The Pioneer that the lieutenant-Governor held a series of consultations with the BJP, the AAP and the Congress to assess the possibility of Government formation in Delhi. As the three main political parties have expressed their inability to form a Government, the l-G is likely to recommend the dissolution of Assembly and holding of fresh elections. Now, there is no requirement for holding the November 25 bypolls to three Assembly seats — Mehrauli, Krishna Nagar and Tuglakabad — which fell vacant after three BJP MlAs quit these seats after winning the lok Sabha elections.
“In the meeting with the lieutenant-Governor, all the parties expressed their inability to form a Government. The l-G will now send his report to the President of India,” a statement by lieutenant Governor’s office said. The decision to dissolve the Delhi Assembly will be taken by the Union Cabinet and it will be approved by Parliament as the State is under President Rule. The l-G held consultations in the wake of the Supreme Court putting the issue on the fast track and giving him time till November 11 to explore the possibility of forming a Government.
According to sources, Delhi may go for fresh elections in mid-December. However, a senior local BJP leader said there were chances that the Assembly elections might be held in January-February next year. “The BJP would prefer to go to polls in Delhi after analyzing the results of the Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand elections,” he said.
On Monday morning, in a letter delivered personally by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, the single largest party in the Delhi Assembly made it clear that it would not form a Government. A delegation comprising Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay and former Delhi Finance Minister Prof Jagdish Mukhi met the lieutenant-Governor and expressed their inability to form a Government due to lack of majority. The meeting was kept secret as they wanted to know the strategy of both the Congress and the AAP.
It is noted that BJP Parliamentary Board had on Sunday made it clear to Delhi leaders that the party was not in favour of formation of a Government in the national Capital. The l-G also invited the AAP and the Congress for talks on Government formation although both the parties have been demanding fresh election and accused him of acting at the behest of the BJP. Both the Congress and the AAP have been maintaining that they are ready for fresh elections and accused the BJP of running away from polls for “fear of defeat”.
Congress legislative Party leader Harun Yusuf told The Pioneer that that Congress’ stand was very clear as the party has been demanding fresh elections in Delhi. “The Congress party told the lieutenant-Governor that it wants fresh elections. The Delhi legislative Assembly should be dissolved as the BJP don’t have sufficient number to prove its majority in the House. Due to delay in election process, the saffron party is polarising the situation,” said Yusuf.
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal first declined to meet the lieutenant-Governor at 2 pm, saying he had received the invitation for the meeting at 12.50 pm and he was in no position to reschedule his prior commitments. In his letter to the l-G, Kejriwal said: “I would be grateful if you could give us sometime late in the evening today or anytime tomorrow.
In any case, you already know our stand on this issue. In the meanwhile, I am sure you would already have had a discussion with the BJP, which is the single-largest party. I would be grateful if you could tell us what is their formal stand on this issue.” The AAP convener’s meeting was later re-scheduled to 5.45 pm. Kejriwal along with his party leader Manish Sisodia met the lieutenant Governor and requested him to hold the elections in Delhi with that of J&K and Jharkhand.