Congress, BJP dismiss AAP's 18-point pre-condition for forming govt

Re-election certain in Delhi

A re-poll in Delhi looked certain on Saturday, with both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissing the pre-conditions set by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for forming a government in the capital with their support.

AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal had sought the Congress’ and BJP’s views on 18 issues before agreeing to take their support. He had written letters to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh asking them to explain their respective stands on issues like ending the VIP (very important person) culture in Delhi, audit of electricity companies and ending the MLA (member of Legislative Assembly) local funds scheme.

“After getting response from the two parties on these issues, we will hold public meetings and ask people whether or not we should form a government,” Kejriwal had said.

The Congress reacted strongly to Kejriwal’s demands, saying AAP was shirking its responsibility and making a mockery of democracy.

“The Congress has extended support so that a government could be formed by AAP, which got the mandate to do so from the people of Delhi. AAP has sent a long list only to avoid responsibility,” said Congress leader Haroon Yusuf.

Kejriwal asked why the Congress and BJP were ready to extend support to AAP, when his party had not even asked for it.

“Nobody gives unconditional support to anyone without any reason. There must be some reason for both parties to extend unconditional support to us. What are their intentions,” he asked.

Attacking BJP, he said the party’s intentions were evident the moment it refused to form the government and said it was not interested in manipulative politics and horse-trading — in other states, it had not been so scrupulous.

BJP’s Vijender Gupta, who lost to Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, responded sharply to the 18-point letter sent to party President Rajnath Singh. he said: “AAP has 28 seats and nine are willing to support it. It has the option to form the government and address all administrative problems it has been bringing up. But refusing to talk about a solution and only talking about problems will not help make a change.”

The AAP leader said his party’s stand was clear from day one: That it would not take or give support to the Congress or BJP.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and handed him a copy of the letters he had written to Singh and Gandhi. Jung said he would soon send a report to President Pranab Mukherjee.