Kejriwal refuses to support BJP

Bhushan had on Monday said that AAP may consider supporting BJP if the party gives AAP in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill

As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made it clear on Tuesday that it would not support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in forming a government in Delhi, a re-election within the next six months looks almost certain.  

“There is no question of supporting [the] BJP. What Prashant Bhushan said yesterday (on Monday) was his personal opinion,” said Kejriwal. On Monday, Bhushan had told a news channel: “If the BJP gives us in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill by December 29 and set up Jan Sabhas in Delhi, as promised by the AAP, we may consider supporting the party.” However, after Kejriwal’s statement, Bhushan retracted and said under no circumstances would support be extended to the Congress or the BJP. (AAP CUTTING ITS WAY THROUGH)

BJP’s internal contradictions
The BJP, meanwhile, on Tuesday elected Harsh Vardhan as the leader of the House. Vardhan, who was the chief ministerial candidate of the party, said his party had decided not to form a government by unfair means.

“We accept we are short of numbers. But, we will not indulge in breaking other parties,” Vardhan said.

Vardhan’s reiteration was in line with what the senior party leadership had been maintaining after the election results were announced.

The leadership fears that if any attempt was made to form a government at this juncture by indulging in horse-trading or engineering split in other parties, it would give AAP a handle to beat it.

However, even as they said this, the party remained tightlipped about what it would do if the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung asked them to try forming the government first – as the BJP is the single largest party with support of 32 MLAs -- four short of a majority.

Both Vardhan and Vijay Goel, president of Delhi unit, ducked questions on whether the BJP will try running a minority government. They said a reelection meant loss of tax payers’ money.

The party’s confusion is fuelled by uncertainty within the legislators of the BJP. Privately, these legislators confided they would prefer the BJP running a minority government than facing a reelection.

“The party should try forming a government,” said one legislator, “But, we will support whatever the party finally decides.”