AAP sets terms for BJP, Congress

New Delhi: Giving a new twist to the government formation in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday set 18 conditions for the Congress and the BJP before it could decide on forming a new government.

AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal, who met lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, said he had written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Rajnath Singh, seeking their views on 18 issues that included audit of electricity companies, removal of MLA local fund scheme, ending of VIP culture and full statehood status for Delhi.

Kejriwal said that once he gets replies from the two parties, he would discuss the matter in about 200 to 250 public meetings across the city.

“We will leave it to the people of Delhi to decide whether we should accept the support of the Congress or the BJP.“ Hitting out at Kejriwal, two outgoing ministers, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Haroon Yusuf, said the AAP was running away from responsibilities by putting conditions for support. Insisting that the Congress was ready to extend unconditional support to the AAP, the two Congress leaders said Kejriwal was making a mockery of democracy by not forming the government. Delhi Congress president J.P. Agarwal said Kerjiwal’s stand clearly reflected his arrogance.

Congress, BJP to decide on AAP letters

AICC general secretary in-charge of Delhi Shakeel Ahmed on Saturday said he would examine the letter written by Arvind Kejriwal to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and get back to the AAP founder in a day or two.

Ahmed had earlier written to Kejriwal about the readiness of his party to support the AAP from outside if it was prepared to form the government. The Congress had, in fact, written a letter to the LG expressing its readiness for unconditional support to the AAP.

The BJP had also earlier said it would extend conditional support to the AAP, but Kejriwal had outright rejected the idea of seeking or giving support to any of the two parties. BJP sources said the party wants the AAP to form the government so that it could fulfil the series of promises Kejriwal made during campaigning.

“We’ll soon reply to the AAP. Kejriwal is playing politics, nothing else,” a BJP leader said.

Soon after meeting the L-G, Mr Kejriwal claimed Najeeb Jung had told him he could come back when he has a majority.

However, a press release issued by the LG said, “Leader of the AAP legislative party Arvind Kejriwal met (the) lieutenant governor.

Referring to the letter of support received from (the) Congress, Kejriwal said he would be in a position to form a government only after ascertaining the views of (the) people of Delhi.” The L-G also sent a status report to the President.