Business Standard

President's Rule appears imminent in Delhi

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
President's Rule appeared imminent in Delhi as both BJP and Aam Aadmi Party today stuck to their ground of not forming a government and preferring fresh elections instead.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan reiterated his party's stand on the issue, saying it does not have the required numbers to form the government while AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal declared that his party would prefer to face fresh polls.

Meanwhile, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung continued consultations with experts to explore next course of action.

Sources said in the wake of the publicly stated position of both BJP and AAP, the Lt Governor was considering "all options".
 

It is learnt that Jung was also considering sending a report to the Home Ministry before inviting any party to form the government.

BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal's one seat, has 32 MLAs in the 70-member House while AAP has got 28 seats followed by Congress' eight. JD-U has won one seat while the Mundka seat has gone to an Independent.

In a meeting yesterday, senior leaders in BJP told its 31 newly-elected MLAs to get ready for election in next few months.

"We don't have the numbers to form a stable government. So we are firm in our decision," Vardhan said.

The Election Commission had yesterday notified results of the Assembly polls in Delhi, paving the way for start of the formal process of government formation by the Lt Governor.

If President's Rule is imposed, then the Lt Governor will run the government with the help of a group of advisors.

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First Published: Dec 11 2013 | 10:22 PM IST

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