NEW DELHI: A day after election results threw up a hung verdict, formation of government in Delhi remained uncertain today with single largest party BJP and runner up AAP refusing to stake claim, saying they do not have the numbers to provide a stable dispensation.
After a meeting of top AAP leaders at party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here, the newcomer to electoral politics said it will not stake claim to form government and will play the role of a constructive opposition.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said even if Lt Governor Najeeb Jung invites the party to form the government it will decline such an offer, citing lack of majority.
“We are not going to form the government. We will sit in the opposition and play the role of a constructive opposition.
As per the Constitution, the largest party has to take the responsibility of forming government,” Yadav said.
“We don’t have the mandate to form the government. It is a strange situation where the single largest party is asking the number 2 party to form the government,” he told reporters.
BJP has also expressed its reluctance to stake claim, saying it did not have the numbers to provide a stable government.
BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan had said last night that he will not stake claim to form a government as his party is short of a clear majority and would prefer to sit in the opposition than indulge in any “horse trading”.
“Since I don’t have number I cannot stake my claim in forming my government in Delhi…Since I don’t have the magic number of 36, I really cannot be a part of the government formation in Delhi,” he had said.
BJP, along with its partner Akali Dal’s one seat, has 32 MLAs and will need the support of at least four more to reach the magic figure of 36. AAP has bagged 28 seats followed by Congress with eight. JD-U won one seat while the Mundka seat was bagged by an Independent.
“I think selflessly, I prefer to sit in the opposition, try and help any government that is there in the offing by anyone and support them for the people’s cause,” Vardhan had said.
Echoing Vardhan’s views, Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel said the party will not resort to any unfair means to reach the majority mark and prefer to sit in the opposition.
“We will not resort to any unfair means to get support of the required number of MLAs. The people of Delhi have given the verdict and we respect it. We will prefer to sit in opposition rather than forming a government through horse trading,” Goel said.
Sources in Lt Governor’s office said Jung was examining the situation.
Yadav said AAP will not extend support to any party to form the government and prefer a fresh election.
Experts said the Lt Governor may invite BJP to form the government as it has emerged as the single largest party.
If BJP wants to lure Congress MLAs, then it will have to bring at least six of the total eight legislators to avoid the provisions under the anti-defection law.
Asked about the prevailing situation, another AAP leader Manish Sisodia said today’s meeting discussed the Assembly election results and felt that people of Delhi have given the party the mandate to sit in the opposition.
“We have discussed the results of Delhi Assembly election. The party has decided that Delhi people have given us the mandate to sit in the opposition and we will perform the role of the opposition.
“BJP has emerged the single largest party, if they want they can form government, but we will sit in the opposition,” he said.
He said in a hung assembly, re-election was the only alternative. “We won’t provide outside support to any party.”
Talking about the issue, Kejriwal’s former colleague Kiran Bedi said both BJP and AAP should join hands to form a stable government as it will be unfair to people of Delhi not have a government.
“Unfair for Delhi people not to get a stable government and return to polls again. Onus on both, BJP and AAP to provide good governance,” she tweeted. -PTI
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