Delhi Government formation: SC adjourns hearing till November 11

The Supreme Court on Thursday hailed Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's efforts to kick off consultations with political parties to explore ways to install a government in the national capital as a positive step and set November 11 as the next date of hearing of the issue.

"The Supreme Court took note of the fact that the honourable Lieutenant Governor has issued a statement saying that he will explore possibilities of government formation. He will invite parties for consultation and that is going to happen soon in near future, this is what apparently Lieutenant Governor has said and Supreme Court termed it as a positive step, a step in the right direction. And thereafter the matter has been posted for final hearing," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) counsel Aman Sinha told media here.

Sinha said the apex court expressed the view that minority governments are known to be there and we would see what happens next on November 11.

The apex court earlier on Tuesday had pulled up the Centre and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for delay in taking decision regarding government formation in Delhi.

On August 5, the apex court had given five weeks' time to the Centre to take a decision on dissolution of the Delhi Assembly.

President Pranab Mukherjee reportedly given his nod to the Lieutenant Governor's proposal to invite the BJP to form the government in Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal had on Wednesday urged Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to call an all-party meeting at the earliest.

Delhi is under President's rule since Kejriwal resigned as the Chief Minister on February 14 after being in office for 49 days.

The BJP won 31 seats in the 70-member house while the AAP emerged victorious in 28 seats in the Delhi Assembly polls held last year.