President's Rule seems imminent in Delhi

The BJP and its ally, the SAD, have 32 MLAs - four short of a majority

President's Rule appeared imminent in Delhi on Thursday, as political parties failed to muster numbers or form alliances.

On Thursday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and conveyed they lacked the numbers to form a government in the 70-member Assembly. The BJP and its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, have 32 members of legislative assembly (MLAs) - four short of a majority.

"I told the lieutenant governor that since we don't have the majority, we will be content to sit in the Opposition," Vardhan said. He added the BJP was ready for a re-poll.

Jung had followed the principle of first inviting the party with the highest numbers. Last evening, Jung had met President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the political situation in the national capital. Mukherjee had asked Jung how he was proceeding on the issue, amid speculation that Delhi would be put under President's Rule and fresh elections announced.

Meanwhile, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's overtures to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fell on deaf ears. On Thursday, Gandhi had said his party was "considering" the option of backing AAP in forming the government.

The AAP, which won 28 seats, needs eight more to form a government. The Congress has eight MLAs. On Wednesday, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal had said his party would prefer fresh polls to forming a government with support from the Congress or the BJP. He had said AAP would not extend its support to any party to form a government. In the scenario of none of the parties being able to form a government, President's Rule would be imposed. Thereafter, the lieutenant governor would run the government with a group of advisors till polls are held again. Polls would have to be held within six months of President's Rule being imposed.