No numbers to form Delhi govt: BJP

Citing a lack of clear majority, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday told Lt Governor Najeeb Jung that it cannot form a government in Delhi.

Jung then decided to put the ball in the court of the Aam  Aadmi Party which is the second largest party in the House after the BJP.

Harsh Vardhan, the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP which has support of 32 legislators, met Jung for over 45 minutes at Raj Niwas and expressed his ability to take the next step to form the government.

“I have told the lieutenant governor that since we don’t have a majority we will continue to serve the people of Delhi and prefer to sit in the opposition,” said the 59-year-old practising doctor.
 
Sources said soon after Harsh Vardhan’s meeting with Jung, the lieutenant governor initiated the process for inviting the AAP, the second largest party in the House, to try and form the government. The AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has been invited to convey his decision on Saturday.

In a 70-member House, the BJP and its ally Akali Dal have 32 seats, the AAP has 28, the Congress has eight and others have two.

Harsh Vardhan, who reached Raj Niwas about 40 minutes late for the meeting earlier scheduled for 6.30 pm, said: “I know I do not have the majority. I am not inclined to disturb other parties and we had no other alternative.”

“Transparency and integrity should be the foundations of politics – which for the BJP is a means to serve the people... we want to tell the people that we had dreamt big for developing the city...we will serve them only when we get a clear mandate,” he said.

He said if the situation was taking “us to another election, the BJP is not to be blamed. We are ready for the poll”.

Harsh Vardhan said he had given a letter to Jung expressing his inability to for the government without have the numbers.

 “If any other party wants to form the government, it is free to do so, we will support all activities that will be for the benefit of the people,” said the BJP leader.

Using the opportunity for striking an emotional chord with Delhiites, Harsh Vardhan said the Bharatiya Janata Party had refused to form the government knowing fully well that the party has got the best mandate – highest number of seats – and that the voters have punished the outgoing Congress government which failed to protect their interests during the last 15 years.

Harsh Vardhan’s letter to Jung said: “The main reasons of people’s woes in Delhi are Congress' misrule and aimless policies. In place of listening to people’s problems, the Congress government did not pay heed to them. This led to the Congress rout in Assembly elections and the party was left with just eight seats.”

“We wanted to bring smiles on faces of Delhi residents after the Assembly elections, but that could not happen as we fell short of majority by four seats,” he said in the letter.

Fresh poll

Kejriwal has maintained that his party would prefer fresh election in Delhi than form a government with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress.

Party spokesman and legislator Manish Sisodia confirmed to Deccan Herald that the party has been invited by the Lieutenant General to explore the possibility of forming a government.

“Our stand is clear, we cannot form a government on our own and we do not want any support from the Congress or  the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi indicated that his party could play a role in supporting the Aam Aadmi Party for forming the next Delhi government.

Congress support

To a question if the Congress will support a government headed by the Aam Aadmi Party, he said: “It is under consideration.”

Rahul Gandhi also met with the party’s eight legislators from Delhi for dissection of the party’s rout.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president Vijay Goel also held talks with party MLAs and ascertained their views on what could be done in the event of a repoll.

A fresh election in Delhi is expected to cost over Rs 50 crore. The exercise would involve over 1.19 crore voters.