BackBJP, Congress ask AAP to form govt in Delhi
AAP is likely to submit a written statement to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Saturday refusing to head a govt in Delhi
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New Delhi: The Congress on Friday sent a letter to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor offering unconditional support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in forming a government in the city-state following an overture by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that assured the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit “constructive cooperation" in fulfilling election promises.
AAP and the BJP, which emerged as the two largest parties in the Delhi assembly after election results were announced on Sunday have so far been reluctant to take over reins of power citing a lack of mandate.
Ahead of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung’s meeting with Kejriwal on Saturday, DPCC (Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee) president J. P. Agarwal sent a letter to him offering support of its eight MLAs to the AAP so that a new government can be formed in the city.
However, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan immediately ruled out accepting the offer from Congress saying it was not in the business of giving or taking support.
“We have decided to extend unconditional support to AAP so that it can form a government. The people of Delhi must get a government. It is the responsibility of AAP now to form the government," Agarwal told PTI.
Separately, the BJP, which has 31 seats and the support of an ally, asked AAP to form a government while assuring it of constructive cooperation in fulfilling its promises such as slashing tariff by 50% and providing free water upto 700 litres daily.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said if AAP was really serious about fulfilling the promises made to people, then it should go ahead and form a government.
“AAP had made many promises including two major promises of reducing power tariff by 50% and providing free water up to 700 litres per day. If AAP is really serious about fulfilling these promises, then it should go ahead and form a government and BJP will provide whatever cooperation is required," Goel said.
On Thursday, BJP, had turned down Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s offer of government-formation, citing lack of majority.
A party needs at least 36 seats in the house of 70 members to form a government. APP has 28 seats. The Lt Governor has called AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to discuss with him government formation on Saturday.
“Even Congress has clearly indicated that it will provide support to the AAP government. Then, if it is really serious about fulfilling its promises, it should go ahead and do it. If they do not form the government, then it will be clear that AAP was never serious about fulfilling these promises which were made with lot of fanfare," Goel added.
The Delhi BJP president said AAP has made several promises in a hurry just to woo the voters.
“BJP believes in providing constructive support to any initiative which serves the interest of Delhi. For us, the interests of Delhi residents are above everything. We have been serving the people of Delhi and we would continue to do so," he said.
Meanwhile, the AAP on Friday reiterated its refusal to head a government in Delhi.
“We do not have the mandate, nor are we the largest party. We will tell this to the LG and also convey to him that we are not a party into the politics of give and take," Yogendra Yadav, a member of the AAP’s national executive, told reporters after a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee on Friday.
The party is likely to submit a written statement to Jung in a meeting scheduled for Saturday morning.
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