A day after election results threw up a hung Assembly in Delhi, the task of government-formation remained uncertain on Monday. The deadlock is likely to continue for days.
The single largest party, the BJP, and the runner-up, the Aam Aadmi Party, have both refused to stake claim to form a government. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung was weighing the developments, according to informed sources in his office.
Sources in the Home Ministry said the Lt-Governor was likely to call the single largest party, the BJP, which along with its partner Akali Dal’s one seat, has 32 MLAs, to ascertain if it was ready to form a government. In the event of the BJP declining to form the government, the Lt-Governor may explore the option of asking the AAP if it will be in a position to do so.
After exhausting all options, the Lt-Governor would submit a report to the Home Ministry recommending imposition of President’s Rule and keeping the Assembly in suspended animation.
The political affairs committee of the AAP met at Arvnd Kejriwal’s residence to consider the party’s future course of action. Emerging from the meeting, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that even if the Lt-Governor invited the party to form a government it would decline the offer, citing lack of majority.
“We’ve stated right from the beginning that we will not seek or offer support to the Congress or the BJP. There is nothing in the results which can change our stand. The result is the moral and political victory of our party, but we don’t have the numbers... We are also not the single largest party. I don’t know why the onus of forming the government is being shifted on us,” said Mr. Yadav.
Senior BJP functionaries including Harsh Vardhan and Vijay Goel met at Nitin Gadkari’s home.
