JOIN USThe question on everyone’s mind now is whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take the crucial step towards government formation in Delhi.
Some AAP leaders continued to say that it will not when its leaders meet Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung on Saturday but Congress sources said the AAP may agree to rule the state with outside support of the Congess.
Though AAP leaders like Yogendra Yadav maintained through the day that the party would refuse to form government as it only has 28 MLAs - well short of the majority mark of 36 - Delhi Congress chief J P Agarwal is believed to have sent a letter to Jung extending unconditional support to AAP.
“Something is in the offing,” said a Congress leader. As AAP leaders remained in a huddle till late night, there was no official confirmation on the so-called arrangement with the Congress.
However, if the AAP on Saturday refuses to form the government, a re-election will come a step closer. The L-G will be left with few options, including suspending the Assembly, suggesting imposition of President’s rule and, later, recommending a repoll.
Manish Jha, who claimed to be a member of the team of AAP leader and legislator Manish Sisodia, told Deccan Herald that there was no change in the party’s stand on government formation. Another AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told reporters: “We will tell him that we do not have majority.”
A day before the crucial meeting with the L-G, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders held several rounds of meetings. The party plans to give a written reply to the L-G’s offer to form the government.
The BJP on Thursday declined to form the government as it has the support of only 32 MLAs and for a clear majority it needs 36 legislators. The Congress, which has eight MLAs, has offered unconditional support to the AAP in government formation, but the latter has refused to support or take help from either the BJP or the Congress for ruling Delhi.
According to secretary of Delhi Assembly, P N Mishra, the new Assembly got constituted on December 9 with the official notification of the results. “Oath taking by the MLAs will, however, take place only when the session of the Assembly is held,” he said.
According to former secretary of Delhi Assembly S K Sharma, in case the AAP refuses to accept the offer to form the government then Lt Governor Jung may suspend the Assembly for some time to see if some political combination can emerge for government formation and a repoll can be avoided.