BJP to attempt govt formation in Delhi if L-G invites party

The party is accused of paying money to poach MLAs from AAP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday was undeterred by allegations that it has indulged in horse-trading to form a government in Delhi. The party, aware that it might have lost some public support after a video showing one of its Delhi unit leaders purportedly offering money to an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, has decided to brazen out the controversy and form a government in Delhi if invited by the Lieutenant Governor (L-G).

AAP, BJP’s chief rival in Delhi, said it will try to checkmate BJP’s attempts to form a government in Delhi. However, AAP is facing its own set of problems. Sources said there were still enough AAP MLAs disillusioned by party leadership who might be willing to quit their Assembly seat that could help BJP form government. These MLAs, sources said, are not confident of getting an AAP ticket if there were elections again in Delhi. Prominent AAP leader Kumar Vishwas queered the pitch further for the party after an interview to a television channel where he was less than charitable about his party leadership and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The assessment within the BJP was that its new Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay has messed up the situation. There is now immense pressure on Upadhyay to somehow extricate the party out of the mess. Upadhyay has embarrassed not just himself and his party, but more specifically three senior leaders who apparently had backed the move to form a government in Delhi.

The video tape showing BJP's Delhi vice-president Sher Singh Dagar offering money to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania to quit his seat has made BJP more determined to form a government in Delhi. It knows that fresh elections might not turn up a favourable verdict for the party. “If we get an invite from the L-G, as a political party it is our right to critically analyse it. It is AAP that has lusted after power and betrayed the people of Delhi, not us,” Upadhyay said.

A meeting at Delhi BJP office on Tuesday didn’t discuss the video tape at all, instead focused on sending assistance to flood-stricken Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP is certain that there were enough AAP MLAs who could still help BJP form the government by quitting their seats. This would bring down the effective strength of the Assembly, helping BJP cross the majority mark.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said his party was in contact with MLAs from the Congress, JD (U) and even honest ones of the BJP to prevent BJP from forming a government. He accused L-G Najeeb Jung of “batting for BJP”. AAP leaders will meet the L-G on Wednesday. President’s Rule in Delhi can extend up to one year, while it is six months for other states, on expiry of which it needs Parliamentary approval for further extension. President’s Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 16 after the AAP government led by Kejriwal resigned.  

While Delhi can remain without an elected Assembly for a year, the apex court had recently expressed its concern over Delhi not having an elected government. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to file an affidavit by October 10 stipulating by when the Centre would take a decision on government formation in Delhi. The Centre had informed the court that a political process has been initiated. ASG P S Narsimha said that Delhi Lt Governor Jung had written a letter on September 4 to the President seeking permission to call the single largest party (BJP) to form the government.

AAP’s Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Fali S Nariman argued that as BJP did not have the requisite numbers in the Assembly, this would only encourage horse-trading by BJP. The five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice H L Dattu, however, said they would have to wait till October 10 when the Centre would file its reply.

The court was hearing a petition filed by AAP demanding that the Lt Governor dissolve the Assembly and hold fresh elections while also challenging the decision to impose President's Rule in Delhi.