BJP welcomes Dikshit's comments on government formation in Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday welcomed former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's comments that the BJP should be given a trial or an opportunity to form the government in Delhi.

Praising "veteran leader" Sheila Dikshit, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said, "Sheila ji is a veteran leader. She has ruled Delhi for 15 years. She understands the constitutional nitty-grittys and has the experience to run a government."

"As a political leader, her comment is mature. It is not a question about the BJP or the Congress. The political process must be equally applicable. When the Aam Aadmi Party did not have a full mandate, they also made a government according to the constitutional process, but then they left it," Upadhyay told ANI here.

Congress Party leaders, however, were quick to label Dikshit's comments as her personal views, while making it clear that the Congress was opposed to the "unethical efforts by the BJP to form the government in Delhi".

"I am very shocked at Sheilaji's statement. This may be Sheilaji's personal view, but the Congress Party's stand is very clear. The Congress is against any unethical efforts by the BJP to form the government in Delhi," Congress Party leader Mukesh Sharma told ANI here.

Sharma also took the BJP to task saying, "Amit Shah should explain how the BJP has got the mandate of the people today. Did they not have the mandate on 12th December, when Harsh Vardhan refused to form the government?"

Another Congress Party leader, Haroon Yusuf, said, "Satish Upadhyay should know that the Congress's stand is clear, we will oppose them forming a government through unconstitutional means."

Sheila Dikshit had stated earlier today that if the "BJP is claiming that they will be able to form a government, I think it should be given a trial and especially since the president of their party is saying so. I suppose he must be saying it with a sense of responsibility."

Speculations are rife that the BJP will soon form the government in Delhi after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee recommending that the BJP, as the single largest party, should be invited to form the government in Delhi.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay also clarified that while his party was ready to go in for fresh elections whenever they are held, it will also critically analyze any invitation to form the government in Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, however, is still pushing for polls in Delhi and had also reportedly asked Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to withdraw the letter sent by him to President Pranab Mukherjee.

According to reports, Kejriwal also gave the Lieutenant Governor a CD of the sting operation which showed that BJP leader Sher Singh Dagar attempting to bribe the AAP MLAs.

The Supreme Court had earlier on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the case on formation of government in Delhi till October 10.