LG cites norms, SC for seeking Prez nod to invite BJP to form

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has sought the President's nod to invite BJP to form the government in the national capital, citing "constitutional conventions" as the basis for the move.
In a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, Jung said he has held several discussions with the leaders of the various political parties on the question of government formation.
"In the past six-and-a-half months, several leaders of the political parties have had discussions with me on the question of government formation," Jung has said in the letter.
In the letter, sent on September 4, the LG also said that every effort must be made towards government formation before recommending dissolution of the Assembly.

"In accordance with constitutional conventions and also keeping in mind the (view of) Supreme Court that every effort must be made to form a popular government before recommending dissolution, I shall be grateful if the President grants approval to invite BJP, which is even today the single largest party in the legislature, to seek their interest in forming the government.
"Should BJP agree, I would ask it to demonstrate its strength to form a stable government on the floor of the House within a stipulated time frame, possibly one week," the LG adds in the letter.

AAP won 28 seats in the December 2013 Assembly polls in Delhi and had later formed the government with outside support from Congress's eight MLAs.

BJP, along with its ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, won 32 seats in the 70-member Assembly. The number of BJP MLAs has, however, come down to 28 as three party legislators were elected to Lok Sabha in the recent general elections.
The AAP government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after its pet project -- Janlokpal Bill -- could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress. President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.
The Lt Governor did not favour the dissolution of Delhi Assembly as recommended by the Council of Ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the Assembly in suspended animation.