Seeking ten days’ time to take a decision pertaining to the formation of Government in the Capital, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday apprised Delhi lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung about two letters written to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and BJP National president Rajnath Singh.
Kejriwal said before going ahead with taking charge of the administration in Delhi, he wanted to seek the views of both parties — the Congress and the BJP — on a list of 18 issues that included ending the VIP culture in the Capital, audit of electricity companies and removal of MlA local funds scheme.
In a surprise move, the Congress had last night extended unconditional support of its eight MlAs to the AAP for forming the next Government. He claimed the l-G told him he can come back when he has the majority. However, a Press release issued by the l-G said, “leader of AAP legislative Party Arvind Kejriwal met
lt-Governor. Referring to the letter of support received from the Congress, Kejriwal said he would be in a position to form a Government only after ascertaining the views of people of Delhi. The honourable l-G will be submitting a factual report to the honourable President of India”.
While the single largest party — the BJP — with 31 MlAs had declined to from the Government, the second largest party — the AAP — with 28 seats has been saying that it would not take from or give support to the Congress and the BJP in Government formation.
“Nobody gives unconditional support to anyone without any reason. There must be some reason that both parties are in a hurry to extend their support to us for free, what are their intentions,” he told reporters. Attacking the BJP, he said that their intentions were evident the moment they refused to form the Government and stated they were not interested in manipulative politics and horse trading when they had allegedly done so in other States.
He also added that the AAP was formed by the common people due to alleged corrupt and criminal politics of both the parties, and it was now not possible to join hands with these parties. “But their moves have surprised us. We had even prepared a letter for the
l-G (expressing our inability to form the Government). To understand their stand, I had written letters to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Rajnath Singh seeking their parties’ stand on 18 issues,” Kejriwal said, adding that he had asked them to provide categorical answers on the issues.