Delhi govt formation: Congress says AAP is power hungry

The party earlier supported AAP's sting video against BJP

After launching an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s sting video, the Congress has trained its guns on the AAP for being “power hungry” like the saffron party. Congress leaders feel the BJP could persuade some AAP MLAs to resign to form the government in Delhi.

Meanwhile, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday and urged him to withdraw his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee requesting permission to invite the BJP to form the government.

After the AAP released the sting video, claiming that BJP’s Sher Singh Dagar had offered monetary inducements to an AAP MLA, the Congress’ communication chief, Ajay Maken, supported the AAP claim and lashed out at the BJP.

Says a senior party leader involved in Delhi Congress affairs, "We soon realised there was not much to be gained by siding with AAP" . The Congress has in the past borne the brunt of AAP's inconsistent tactics; enabling AAP to gain further support now by backing it, served no purpose for the beleaguered Congress with eight MLAs.

As if on cue, Congress MLA Mohammed Asif accused AAP leader Manish Sisodia of approaching the Congress proposing that should Congress not want Kejriwal as CM candidate he was up for the job. The AAP has been at our knees all this, eager to form the government again and requesting us to help, alleged a Congress leader.

Congress insiders admit that they are aware that BJP is bent on forming the government at any cost. "They could get some AAP MLAs to resign, that way they will be able to bring down the effective strength of the house from 70 and then with their 29 MLAs they can form the government," said the leader. Therefore, as of now, the party finds its fit to retain its own identity and not be clubbed with the AAP.

In its fight to remain relevant, the erstwhile ruling party has been forced to hit out both ways lest its voice gets drowned out.

Meanwhile, after urging the Supreme Court to order dissolution of the Delhi Assembly, which the court declined to do and instead gave time to the Centre to file its affidavit, AAP continued it battle by taking it to the door step of the Lt Governor. Kejriwal today met the LG and urged him to Najeeb Jung today urging him to withdraw his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee requesting permission to invite BJP to form the government; he alleged that this would only encourage horse trading.