<p>BJP today scoffed at reports that it was trying to lure MLAs of other parties to form government in Delhi, saying the party has never indulged in horse-trading and will not do so in future.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"BJP has never done any horse-trading, nor will it do so in future. The question does not arise at all," Home Minister and former BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here.<br /><br />He also rubbished Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal's allegations that BJP was trying to poach some opposition MLAs to be able to form government in Delhi.<br /><br />The Home Minister, however, evaded a direct reply on the possibility of BJP forming the government in the national capital in near future. "Please ask our party President Amit Shah. I am not aware of it. I have no information," he said.<br /><br />Asked whether there was any direction to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to take initiatives for government formation, Singh said no such directive has been given by the Home Ministry.<br /><br /> Delhi is currently under President's Rule after the Kejriwal-led AAP government resigned in mid-February.<br /><br />So far the BJP has been refusing to take the plunge citing lack of majority.<br /><br />Newly-appointed Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay had yesterday said that the party would consider taking a shot at government formation if invited by the Lt Governor.<br /><br />All BJP MLAs and MPs in Delhi are believed to be in favour of the party forming the government and a final decision on it is expected to be taken when Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from the BRICS summit in Brazil.<br /><br />Former Delhi Finance Minister Jagdish Mukhi is considered to be in the race for Chief Minister's post.<br />BJP will require the support of five additional MLAs to prove majority in the Assembly and party sources said the party was confident of getting them.<br /><br />BJP had emerged the single largest party after the polls with 32 seats, including one of Akali Dal, in the 70-member Assembly. But it had refused to form government in December, saying it did not have the numbers and will not resort to any "unfair means" to take the reins.<br /><br />AAP with 28 MLAs had later formed the government with support of eight Congress MLAs. BJP's number came down to 28 after three of its MLAs - Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma - were elected to the Lok Sabha. <br /><br />The strength of the Assembly also went down to 67 and the simple majority mark would be 34.</p>
<p>BJP today scoffed at reports that it was trying to lure MLAs of other parties to form government in Delhi, saying the party has never indulged in horse-trading and will not do so in future.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"BJP has never done any horse-trading, nor will it do so in future. The question does not arise at all," Home Minister and former BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here.<br /><br />He also rubbished Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal's allegations that BJP was trying to poach some opposition MLAs to be able to form government in Delhi.<br /><br />The Home Minister, however, evaded a direct reply on the possibility of BJP forming the government in the national capital in near future. "Please ask our party President Amit Shah. I am not aware of it. I have no information," he said.<br /><br />Asked whether there was any direction to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to take initiatives for government formation, Singh said no such directive has been given by the Home Ministry.<br /><br /> Delhi is currently under President's Rule after the Kejriwal-led AAP government resigned in mid-February.<br /><br />So far the BJP has been refusing to take the plunge citing lack of majority.<br /><br />Newly-appointed Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay had yesterday said that the party would consider taking a shot at government formation if invited by the Lt Governor.<br /><br />All BJP MLAs and MPs in Delhi are believed to be in favour of the party forming the government and a final decision on it is expected to be taken when Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from the BRICS summit in Brazil.<br /><br />Former Delhi Finance Minister Jagdish Mukhi is considered to be in the race for Chief Minister's post.<br />BJP will require the support of five additional MLAs to prove majority in the Assembly and party sources said the party was confident of getting them.<br /><br />BJP had emerged the single largest party after the polls with 32 seats, including one of Akali Dal, in the 70-member Assembly. But it had refused to form government in December, saying it did not have the numbers and will not resort to any "unfair means" to take the reins.<br /><br />AAP with 28 MLAs had later formed the government with support of eight Congress MLAs. BJP's number came down to 28 after three of its MLAs - Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma - were elected to the Lok Sabha. <br /><br />The strength of the Assembly also went down to 67 and the simple majority mark would be 34.</p>