JOIN USPolitical buzz returns to Delhi
The buzz is back in politics in the capital. Activities in all political parties resemble the days after the declaration of the Assembly elections results on December 8. The AAP is back to its refrain that BJP and Congress should jointly form the government.
The Congress is claiming that it does not have the number and its best foot forward was supporting AAP in forming a minority government, but that did not work out the way they had wanted.
The BJP, the largest single party in the 70-member Assembly, says it is ready for fresh elections.
According to Janata Dal-United’s lone legislator, Shoaib Iqbal, there are some rumblings within AAP that could change the dynamics of the political game. “I have always said that in the event of Kejriwalresigning, there is a strong possibility of BJP forming a government,” he said.
Leader of the city BJP unit Harsh Vardhan said whatever is the decision of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, it would be accepted and if he suggests elections then the party would not hesitate in going to the people again.
“If elections are held today, we are ready for it,” he said.
Mahendra Nagpal, a BJP MLA, said, “We are ready for re-elections. Delhi has seen the Aam Aadmi Party’s governance, Delhiites are already fed up with Congress. Now it’s our turn to come to power. We are not afraid to contest elections.”
The BJP MLA made it clear that the party was in no mood to form a minority government -- with no clear majority in the House and relying on any outside support from another group in the Assembly.
Nagpal also ruled out the possibility of former AAP leader and legislator Vinod Kumar Binny playing a key role in helping the BJP form a government.
On whether Binny could be wooed with an offer to be the next deputy chief minister in exchange for facilitating support for BJP from some more legislators, Nagpal said, “No, the party is not at all in favour of that.”
Congress leaders said they supported the AAP government seeing the public support but Kejriwal’s party failed to deliver its promises.
“The Congress supported AAP because people wanted it to show its form of governance. The AAP was given a chance to deliver its promises. But the AAP leader has run away,” Delhi Congress leader Mukesh Goel said.
“The Congress is ready for polls. The people of Delhi had given a chance to AAP but it disappointed them like anything. Delhiites have realised that the welfare of the city is in the hands of Congress,” added Goel, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Kejriwal had been trying to run away from governance for a long time, Goel said.
“Since the inception of his government he was looking for ways to resign. He realised it’s not easy to run a government. There’s a sea of difference between running a political party and running a government,” he added.
The AAP is no different from any other political party, Delhi Congress spokesperson Jitender Kochar said. “When the public was seeking resignation of Kejriwal’s Law Minister Somnath Bharti, the AAP was trying to shield its leader. The AAP didn’t sack him, rather it said let the findings of the inquiry report come out,” he said.