BJP won’t stake claim for the government in Delhi

It’s a long road ahead even if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decides to stake claim to form the government in the National Capital Territory. On Wednesday, though, there was no indication of unanimity on the matter within the party. Though the MLAs are pushing for government formation, to avoid fresh polls, nobody has the formula to reach the magic number of 34 required for forming the government.

But the leader could not explain from where he would get the required numbers. When asked if the BJP would stake claim before the Lieutenant Governor to form the government, he replied: ‘There is no possibility of staking claim to form the government as we don’t have requisite numbers.’ But his comment has stirred the political cauldron. ‘The city deserves an elected government be it by formation of government in the present assembly or by fresh elections,’ he argued.

The million dollar question is what reasons will the LG give to the president of India through union ministry of home affairs if he intends to invite the BJP to form the government in Delhi. It’s pertinent to mention here that the LG has limited powers and will have to seek approval of the home ministry and president of India before inviting the BJP or anybody else to form the government. But if the BJP stakes claim, the LG would have a ground to approach the president of India through union ministry of home affairs which doesn’t look to be a possibility in near future.

The BJP also has to factor in the fact that the Speaker of the House, which is currently in suspended animation, MS Dhir, will be the adjudicating authority if a few MLAs either from the Aam Admi Party or the Congress decide to defect. Dhir, who was elected MLA on AAP ticket, may disqualify the defectors from casting vote during the floor test. BJP and allies presently have 29 seats in the 67-member house as three seats are vacant. AAP has 28 seats while Congress has 8 MLAs and two are independents.

On splitting Congress or AAP, Upadhayay said, ‘We are not going to break any party. Arvind Kejriwal first said we were planning to break AAP now he blames that we are planning to split Congress. How can he level baseless charges,’ asked Upadhayay. ‘His allegations of horse trading are baseless,’ he argued. ‘I dare AAP to prove their allegations of BJP giving money to AAP or Congress,’ he said. 

Another hurdle in the way of a city government is election of the leader of  BJP’s legislative party which is lying vacant after Harsh Vardhan joined the union government as minister for health and family welfare. Currently, senior BJP leader and former finance minster of Delhi, Jagdish Mukhi, seems to be a strong contender for the post but some other leaders like Vijay Goel, Vijender Gupta, Nand Kishore Garg, Rambir Bidhuri, Sahib Singh Chauhan are also lobbying hard.