With hung house in Delhi, all eyes on Lt. Governor

The role of Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung has become crucial in view of Delhi elections throwing up a hung assembly and the single largest party BJP not showing any hurry to form a government, say constitutional experts.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged the single largest player with 31 seats followed by the Aam Aadmi Party with 28 seats. The BJP's ally Shiromani Akali Dal also won a seat.

The Congress won eight seats and one seat each was won by the Janata Dal-United and an Independent candidate. Any party or coalition needs 36 seats to cross the halfway mark in the 70-member assembly and earn a simply majority.

The experts said that according to convention, the single largest party is called to form government in case of a hung assembly.

They said if the BJP refuses to form government, the Lt. Governor may invite the AAP to do so.

If neither of the parties forms government, the Lt. Governor will send his report to President Pranab Mukherjee, they said.

"The assembly may be kept under suspended animation or may be dissolved," said said S.K. Sharma, former secretary of the Delhi assembly.

Suspended animation will keep alive chances of a party cobbling a majority or stitching up an alliance and stake claim to form the government.

If President's rule is imposed in Delhi, all the executive powers will be vested with the Lt. Governor for the next six months until a new government is formed or the next round of polls is held.

In case the assembly is dissolved, re-election may take place alongside the next Lok Sabha elections about six months away.