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There have allegations that the BJP is working to uproot the AAP from its stronghold in Delhi by consistently targeting its restive MLAs with promises of positions in government formation.
A recent disclosure by AAP leader Kumar Vishwas about the BJP promising him the Chief Minister’s post in Delhi is part of the BJP’s plans to keep up efforts to create rifts within AAP, it has been reported.
In reality, BJP sources told BusinessLine , the party has no intension of attempting to form a government in the Capital.
Significantly, the main deterrence in the way of a BJP government in Delhi is the possibility of Arvind Kejriwal becoming Leader of Opposition. The BJP believes it will resuscitate the AAP.
“ Yeh Kejriwal toh aasman mein thookne wala aadmi hai. Sarakar bana ke isko LOP banane ka mauka nahin denge (Kejriwal is a man who spits at the sky. Why give him the platform to do it by appointing him LOP?)” remarked a BJP leader.
Keeping up moraleA good reason for the party to appear to be interested in forming a government in Delhi is to keep up the morale of its own MLAs.
Besides, it also gives Lt Governor Najeeb Jung adequate reason to keep the Assembly in suspended animation.
At the same time, it does not suit the BJP to hold elections immediately. President’s rule is thus expected to continue in Delhi till January 2015, which is when the party deems it favourable to hold elections.
“Our performance is certainly going to improve in Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections. We will do very well in Jammu region in the J&K Assembly polls. After the upcoming Assembly elections are over, the political climate will be very favourable for us to hold elections in Delhi,” said a BJP source.
BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal’s one MLA, had won 32 seats in the 70-member Assembly in the polls held in December 2013.
The number of BJP MLAs has come down to 28 as three party legislators — Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma — resigned from their seats after having been elected to the Lok Sabha.
Chief Minister candidateThough Harsh Vardhan won from the Chandni Chowk seat and is now Minister for Health and Family Welfare in the Union Cabinet, he is still the most favoured person in the faction-ridden unit of Delhi BJP to lead the party in the next Assembly elections. He was the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in the last Assembly elections as well.
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