Cong, BJP to wait and watch

Our Bureau Updated - December 23, 2013 at 10:16 PM.

Will the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) be able to maintain the “high moral ground” and fulfil its promises is a question being raised after Arvind Kejriwal staked his claim to form the next Government in Delhi with support from Congress.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party said it had now been proved that the AAP was the “B” team of the Congress, the Congress said there was nothing unconditional in their support to Kejriwal’s Government.

The AAP has already announced its plans to contest all Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, two BJP-ruled States. It also plans to launch a series of agitations against the Congress Government in Haryana, particularly targeting the alleged land deals of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress has already made it clear that it offered support to avoid a re-election in Delhi.

“We had said we will give them outside support. The support is not unconditional. I congratulate them for deciding to form the government and hope they will be able to fulfil the promises they made to the people of Delhi,” former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters here on Monday.

Why U-turn, asks BJP The BJP said the AAP owed people many answers. “Kejriwal had said he will never accept Congress support. Why is there a U-turn and what is the deal behind accepting the Congress support now? This is hypocrisy,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

A big section in the Delhi Congress believes that the AAP will be “exposed” once they start governing. The Congress is waiting to see how Kejriwal will reduce power tariff, ensure 700 litres of free water to all households and pass the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill within 15 days of forming the Government.

>jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

Published on December 23, 2013 16:46