Modi tells Shah to go for polls in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have taken the decision to end the BJP’s dilemma over facing elections in Delhi, conveying to BJP leaders led by party chief Amit Shah that he does not want his party to cobble together a majority to form a government in Delhi and invite charge of horse-trading.

Modi took the view that the BJP should strive for winning a clean majority in Delhi elections, citing its recent wins in Maharashtra and neighbouring Haryana. 

Hitherto, Shah and other party leaders were not too sure whether the BJP should forsake the option of forming the government as suggested by some legislators who were not in favour of fresh elections.

Shah’s stand was that the BJP could run the government for at least six months to show that it was better than the AAP government that lasted 49 days and take important decisions, including creation of the Lokayukta.

Shah and other BJP leaders said the party could wait for the Supreme Court, which is hearing the AAP’s plea for fresh polls, to take a call on dissolving the Assembly. Alternatively, they said the party could also wait for the Lt Governor to invite it to form a government.

The BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal, has 29 legislators. It requires support of five more MLAs for a majority in the assembly of 67. But with Modi vetoing any attempt to form the government, central BJP leaders decided to convey to the Delhi Lt Governor that the party was not interested in forming the government.