Cong, AAP ask LG not to take any 'unconstitutional' step

Amid fresh speculation about government formation in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress today cautioned the Lt Governor against initiating any "unconstitutional" move by inviting BJP to take a shot at power as the party does not have the required numbers.

Both AAP and Congress reacted sharply to reports that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung would soon submit a report to the President favouring new initiative to form government in Delhi.

Sources in BJP said almost all its MLAs and senior Delhi leaders were not in favour of facing assembly election immediately and have already conveyed their views to top leadership.

"We will consider forming government if the Lt Governor asks us to do so. The Lt Governor will have to take a final decision on the issue," said a senior party leader.

The Congress and AAP demanded immediate dissolution of the Assembly, saying keeping it in suspended animation will encourage horse trading.

"The BJP does not have the numbers to form a government. If the LG takes any unconstitutional step to help BJP come to power, then we will oppose it tooth and nail. We will not tolerate any immoral activity," DPCC Chief Spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said.

He said all the eight Congress MLAs are united and no party legislators will support BJP to form government.

The Lt Governor is likely to send a report to the Union Home Ministry soon about the political situation in the city as it completed six months of President's Rule last week.Asked about the issue, Jung said, "I have not taken any decision yet."

The AAP urged Jung to respect his constitutional post and not do anything "improper". Senior party leader Yogendra Yadav said that the party was confident that no person holding a constitutional post would indulge in anything "improper".

AAP had won 28 seats in its debut assembly elections and had later formed the government with outside support from Congress' eight MLAs.

BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal's one MLA, had won 32 seats in the 70-member assembly. The number of BJP MLAs has come down to 28 as three party legislators Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma have been elected to Lok Sabha.

The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress. President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.

The Lt Governor had not favoured dissolution of the 70-member Delhi assembly as recommended by the Council of Ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the assembly in suspended animation.