Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said that the Centre has requested Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to seek a specific time-frame from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on their decision to form the government in Delhi or not.
"We have communicated to the Delhi Lt. Governor to get a time-frame from the AAP for the formation of a government," Shinde told reporters here.
"Congress offered AAP unconditional support, but it's important to give them time to form the government. It's a democratic process," he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it will take the views of the people of the city from today till Sunday, and ask them for their reactions to forming a government with the Congress Party.
Addressing media here, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said that being a people's party, they would carry out a referendum among the people of the city, and decide what to do next.
"We have written a letter for Delhiites now. 25 lakh copies will be made and distributed across the city to seek the people's feedback. People can phone in, send a text message, or leave a message on the AAP Facebook page," he added.
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Kejriwal further said that AAP had written letters to both the Congress and the BJP.
"Congress had offered unconditional support. The BJP had said they would offer issue-based support. Delhi has 18 key issues. We had asked the Congress and the BJP about their opinions on those issues. It is surprising that BJP didn't even bother to respond to the letter," he said.
"Congress said that 16 of these points are administrative issues for which AAP would need no support, and for the remaining two, we offer our support," he added.
Criticizing both parties, Kejriwal said: "These leaders, in their arrogance, used to challenge us to fight elections. I will repeat, don't challenge the common man. He is the one who makes the roti, kapda, makan. It's not the netas who make all this."
The Congress had earlier replied to the letter sent by Kejriwal, and said the majority of the issues raised by him, are related to administrative work and there was no need for the government to take their support on these issues.
Congress Delhi in-charge Shakeel Ahmed said it was not necessary for the government to consult parliament or assembly regarding the administrative work.
Kejriwal on Saturday had written letters to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh asking their stand on the 18 key issues.
Listing his 18 conditions, he had said, "After their response on these issues comes in, we will hold meeting with the public and whatever their decision is, we will accept it. Whether the public wants a re-election or should we form government with support of the BJP and the Congress. This is what we have told the Lieutenant Governor.