Delhi BJP chief lashes out at AAP, keeps doors open for government formation

Hitting out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal for betraying the people of Delhi, the chief of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Satish Upadhayay, on Tuesday clarified that his party is ready to go in for fresh elections whenever they are held, but did not rule out critical analysis if any invitation comes before the BJP with regard to government formation.

"We are ready to go for elections if the Lieutenant Governor conducts it tomorrow. Our stand is clear....we haven't got any invitation yet, but if the invitation comes, as a political party, we will do a critical analysis and see our strength. ...This is my stand from day one and I am not changing," Upadhayay told media persons here.

He questioned the AAP's stand about not allowing the BJP to form a government in Delhi.

"Who is the AAP to say that we should not be asked to form a government here? Did not his party emerge as the second largest party to form a government in Delhi. They keep camouflaging their lust for power. Today only, JD (U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal had said that he will meet AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal over government formation in Delhi. We have always kept saying that the double face of Kejriwal must come forward," he added.

The Delhi BJP unit claimed that the party never believed in horse trading earlier, and nor will it do so now as well.

"When they go to the court and say to hold elections, but they never said that why did he go to the Lieutenant Governor and give a letter for not holding elections.... Why he is trying fool the people of Delhi....If we had to indulge in horse trading, then we could have done it before, even now too, we will not do so. ...," he further added.

He attacked Kejriwal for the current mess in Delhi and charged him with fooling the people of Delhi.

"Where was their (AAP's) morality that they formed government with the Congress against whom he (Kejriwal) attacked in his campaign, who is responsible for the current mess in Delhi. It is only Kejriwal and his lust for power, he should be ashamed, it is he who fooled the people of Delhi and not the BJP," Upadhayay asked.

He also claimed that leaders like Shoaib Iqbal and from other parties have said that elections should not be held now and that his party was nowhere in the picture.

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the case on Delhi Government formation till October 10.

The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to take a decision on holding Delhi Assembly elections following a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asking for the dissolution of the Assembly and fresh polls.

Yesterday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that only Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung can take a decision on the formation of the next government in Delhi.

Reportedly, Jung is likely to invite the BJP to form the government in the national capital.

Delhi has been under President's rule since Arvind Kejriwal resigned as chief minister February 14 after being in office for 49 days.

The BJP won 31 seats in the 70-member house but now has 28 legislators after three were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections held in April-May. The AAP also has 28 MLAs representing it.