 "BJP prepared for all options in Delhi")
The BJP, unlike the other two, is yet to ask for dissolution. The party has kept its cards close to its chest but the assessment is that it has little to lose in any situation, including if it were to form a minority government now and prepare itself for polls by early next year.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung decided to invite all political parties to explore the possibility of government formation in Delhi. Jung met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to apprise him of his decision.
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The Supreme Court on Tuesday had slammed the Centre for the delay in taking a decision on government formation. The court was hearing a petition by AAP. Delhi has been under President’s rule since February. The President’s rule was extended for another six months in August by the Parliament.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal demanded Jung should call an all-party meeting to take a final decision on the issue and inform the court at the next hearing of the case on Thursday. Kejriwal alleged the L-G was colluding with the BJP, and running the government from the backdoor for that party.
“We are in a democratic country and there should be a people’s government and elected government and L-G should be trying his level best to have the elected government. Under BJP’s instruction, he is constantly delaying everything,” Kejriwal said.
According to sources, the L-G is likely to invite the BJP, the single largest party in the Assembly, to know the party’s views on government formation followed by the AAP and the Congress.
The BJP, political observers believe, is sitting comfortably in whatever situation that might arise after Thursday’s court hearing.
It is willing to form a minority government and test its strength on the floor of the House. The BJP is of the view that its minority government would survive a floor test as few MLAs of any party want fresh elections, although their leaderships might.
Any delay in fresh elections, it is believed, will hurt the AAP the most. The BJP could form the government in the interregnum and ready itself for fresh elections early next year, by which time AAP might weaken further.
Currently, the BJP has 29 members of legislative assembly (MLAs), along with its ally Shiromani Akali Dal’s one MLA. The 70-member House has three vacancies that have arisen after three BJP MLAs were elected as members of the Lok Sabha. The by-polls for these three seats are scheduled for November 25.
The BJP is confident of winning the three seats, which can potentially take its tally to 32. There are two independent MLAs who could support the BJP. The party, in a floor test, would need the support of either two more MLAs to reach the majority mark of 36 or some abstentions to bring the effective strength of the House down.
Few in the party, however, expect either AAP or Congress MLAs to quit, as there would be little guarantee that the BJP can offer them tickets if fresh polls were to take place.