Jung seeks president's nod to invite BJP to form government

Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung has sought President Pranab Mukherjee's permission to invite the single largest party in the state assembly - the BJP - to form the government in Delhi, informed sources said Friday.

In a report sent to the president, Jung has recommended that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) be invited to form the government in the national capital.

Delhi has been under President's rule since Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned as chief minister Feb 14 after just 49 days in office.

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 April-May.

In a house with an effective strength of 67, the lone Akali Dal legislator is a BJP ally. There is a JD-U member, an Independent and an AAP rebel.

The Congress won eight seats.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said he neither has any knowledge about the LG's letter to the president nor has he received any invitation to form a government.

"I have no idea about this. We have not got any invitation from the LG. As we don't have the numbers in the house, we are critically analysing all options," Upadhyay said, adding the party was ready for fresh polls if needed.

According to party sources, Upadhyay met senior party leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday to "discuss" the matter.

Meanwhile, the AAP, which emerged as the second largest party in Delhi winning 28 seats (one turned rebel) criticised the LG and argued the BJP was not the choice of the people.

"This will be murder of democracy, if the BJP forms a government. They are hungry for power and will go to any length to get it. BJP is not the choice of the people. Fresh elections must be held in Delhi," AAP legislator Somnath Bharti told a news channel.