BJP rejects offer to form Govt in Delhi, bats for fresh polls
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
New Delhi, December 12 2013:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected the offer to form the Government in Delhi insisting that it does not have the required numbers for the same.
Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel reiterated the party's stand and said that the party would instead favour fresh polls for the Delhi Assembly.
"We have made our stand clear that we don't have enough numbers.
Dr Harsh Vardhan will meet the LG today to discuss the developments.
We are ready for all scenarios, we are ready to even go for re-elections," said Goel.
The BJP leader also indicated that he was open to talks with AAP which had garnered 28 seats in the 70-member assembly.
"If AAP gives us a proposal then we'll definitely think about it," he said.
The BJP also claimed that it has no problem to sit in the Opposition.
"We have made it clear that the BJP won't form a Government in Delhi since we don't have the numbers.
Senior AAP leaders have indicated that they are keen to form the govt, let them do so.
The BJP has made no such promises," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
With both BJP and AAP unwilling take charge of the government, Delhi seems to be bracing for the President's rule.
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Dr Najeeb Jung has got a tough job on his hands.
He has asked Dr Harsh Vardhan, BJP's chief ministerial candidate, to meet him to discuss the formation of next government in Delhi.
Going by the precedent set by the former President KR Narayanan, he might ask Harsh Vardhan to form the next government and prove majority later.
According to political experts, since the Congress, BJP and AAP have declared that they would not enter into any post-poll alliances, the chances of President's Rule look higher.
The previous Assembly was appointed on December 18, 2008.It completes five years on December 18, 2013.The Constitution makes it clear that a new assembly must be constituted by that date.
If no party manages majority or comes forward to form the next Government, the President's Rule will come into effect on the recommendation of the Lt Governor.
The caretaker Government of Sheila Dikshit can continue till December 17 .
According to the Constitution the President's Rule cannot last beyond six months.
Once the six month period expires, the fresh election to the Delhi assembly can be held along with the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May 2014 .
As per rule 5 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, the legislative assembly, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of appointment for its first meeting and no longer, and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as dissolution of the Assembly.
Once the President's Rule is imposed the Lt.Governor becomes both the Constitutional and executive head of the state government.
He can appoint a group of advisors who act as council of ministers to run various departments of the state.
Normally, these advisors are senior bureaucrats or retired bureaucrats.
Under the President's Rule, there will be no major developmental work and it will just manage day to day affairs of the government.
The President's rule can hurt the growth of Delhi.
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