NEW DELHI: AAP today appeared to have given up efforts to form a government in the national capital again with its chief Arvind Kejriwal saying chances of coming to power are “negligible” and apologized for quitting as Delhi Chief Minister within 49-days.
Kejriwal, whose party received a severe jolt in the parliamentary elections, particularly in Delhi where six months back AAP had a dream debut in the assembly polls, termed as a “biggest mistake” the decision to resign without consulting the public. He said AAP was preparing for fresh polls.
“Today I would like to apologies to the people of Delhi and the country for resigning mid-way. We made a mistake and we apologies for that.
“When we quit the government, we quit on the basis of morality. We didn’t want to compromise on our principles. But we didn’t know it will be misrepresented. I apologies for that,” Kejriwal said addressing a press conference.
The AAP leader said though the party was contemplating a “referendum” in the city to know people’s views on whether the party should form government again, it has dropped the idea as chances of coming to power are “negligible” in the current situation.
“We have found that the chances of forming the government in Delhi in the current scenario are negligible. So in such a condition there is no point having a referendum,” he said.
Delhi Congress Chief Spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said Congress will not support AAP at “any cost” to form the government again.
In sort of U-turn, Kejriwal had yesterday asked Lt Governor Najeeb not to dissolve the assembly anytime soon, saying it will hold public meetings across the city to know whether the party should form the government again.
While quitting, the AAP government on February 14 had recommended immediate dissolution of the assembly to pave way for fresh elections. However, the Lt Governor did not dissolve the assembly and kept in under suspended animation following which AAP had even filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Jung’s decision. .
Kejriwal said the party was preparing for fresh elections as Congress has refused to support his party to form a government.
“We had a meeting of party MLAs and we have decided to gear up for the elections. We will go to the people, will hold various meetings in Delhi in the coming days. We will apologies to the people and gain there trust and ask them to support us with complete majority,” said Kejriwal.
Exuding confidence of returning to power, he said AAP would form a government that will run for five years. “We will give first corruption free and pro-development government in Delhi.”
AAP had won 28 seats in its debut assembly elections in December last year and had later formed the government with outside support from Congress’ eight MLAs.
BJP along with its ally Akali Dal’s one MLA had won 32 seats in the 70-member Assembly. The number of BJP MLAs has come down to 28 as three party legislators Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma have been elected to Parliament.
The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after the party’s pet project – the Jan Lokpal Bill – could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.
President’s Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.
BJP has also said that it would prefer fresh election than forming a government through “manipulation”.
In the press conference, Kejriwal said people are angry with AAP as after the party-led government quit, the 50 per cent power subsidy and free water scheme of the AAP dispensation, were withdrawn.
“Police started taking bribe once again, traders told us that sales tax officials started making multiple raids taunting them to call Kejriwal. This made people think that Kejriwal left them in mid-way.
“They tell me that I have done one mistake by resigning but I should not repeat it by not making the government once again. They say make government and give relief to us,” he said. When asked about his meeting with Kejriwal, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung confirmed that the former had met him at his office yesterday but refused to divulge any details of the conversation.
“Yes he had come,” said Jung but declined to elaborate when asked whether he was exploring things at his level regarding government formation and if he was planning to dissolve Vidhan Sabha.–PTI
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