Delhi Lt Governor to hold talks with political parties on govt formation

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has decided to invite political parties to explore the possibility of government formation in Delhi, a day after Supreme Court’s rap over delay in taking a decision on the issue.

Jung, who had come back from abroad last night, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning and apprised him of his move to call the parties before taking a final decision on ending the political uncertainty in Delhi which is under President’s Rule since February after AAP government’s resignation.

“In view of the President’s approval to explore the possibility of installing a popular government in Delhi, the Lt Governor would be exploring the possibilities with the leaders of all political parties over the next few days,” LG’s office said.

Sources in LG’s office said BJP, the single largest party in the Assembly, may be invited “at the earliest” to know their views on government formation followed by AAP and Congress.

Yesterday, the Centre had informed the Supreme Court that President Pranab Mukherjee had accepted a proposal by the LG to invite the BJP to take a shot at power in Delhi.

Hearing a petition filed by AAP seeking dissolution of the Assembly, a five-judge Bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had put the issue on a fast forward mode as it slammed the Centre and the Lt Governor over delay in taking a decision on government formation.

The case will come up for hearing again tomorrow.

The BJP appeared undecided on taking a shot at power even as a number of its senior leaders, including party President Amit Shah and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, were learnt to be in favour of the party forming a government.

Though Delhi BJP leaders maintained that a “final decision” on whether to go for polls or form a government was yet to be taken, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said yesterday that the party was ready for elections.

The AAP and Congress have accused BJP of “running away” from the elections by not taking a decision on whether to end President’s rule.

Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal’s lone MLA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in the 67-member assembly if it decides to form the government.

The party is hopeful of getting support of expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny and Independent MLA from Mundka Ramvir Shokeen in case it decides to form the government.

BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the December Assembly polls winning 31 seats but fell four seats short of a simple majority. It refused to form the government then, saying it will not resort to any “unfair means” to take over the reins.

Its strength came down to 28 after the Lok Sabha polls as three MLAs Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma were elected to Parliament. With their resignation, the strength of the Assembly also went down to 67. The bypolls to the three seats will be held on November 25.

AAP had formed the government in Delhi with the support of Congress. 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.

Jung had not favoured dissolution of the Delhi Assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the Assembly in suspended animation.

Kejriwal today demanded that the LG call an all-party meeting and take a decision on the future of course of action.

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