Centre to give AAP a few more days to form govt: Shinde

New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday said it will give a few more days to Aam Admi Party (AAP) to explore the possibility of forming a government in Delhi where political uncertainty continues after the recent Assembly elections threw a hung verdict.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that the Central government has asked the Lieutenant Governor as to how much time the AAP has sought for formation of government in Delhi.

"We will give some more days (to AAP) for government formation in Delhi. This a democratic process," he said.

Shinde's statement indicated that the Central government was not in a hurry to impose President's rule in Delhi and ready to wait at least till Monday when AAP, with 28 MLAs in its kitty, makes public its decision whether to form the government after eliciting views from the people.

AAP had sought time from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to take a decision whether to form government after Congress, with eight MLAs, offered outside support to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.

The party had set 18 conditions for Congress and BJP before it can decide on taking their support to form a government. Congress had then put the ball in AAP's court, saying 16 of its 18 demands needed just administrative decisions and had nothing to do with Parliament or assembly.

However, AAP on Tuesday had announced that it would distribute 25 lakh copies of letters seeking people's views on the issue of government formation and then replies will be accepted till Sunday.

In a House of 70, BJP(31) and its ally Akali Dal(1) together have 32 seats, four short of majority while AAP has 28 seats.

The Lt Governor has already recommended that Delhi be put under President's rule with the new assembly in suspended animation among other options.

Imposition of central rule was was one of the options listed by Jung in his report submitted to the President after his consultations with BJP, the single largest party, followed by AAP. 

Shinde said the Lt Governor's report had come to the government and the LG was working according to options available to him.

"In the meantime Congress party has extended unconditional support to AAP to form government in Delhi and in such a process...if a government has to be established by coalition... it takes some time.

"It takes time to collect or forge the coalition hence we have asked LG that you ask AAP leader Kejriwal as to how much time will it take. The Home Secretary has been asked to talk with LG... we are awaiting that but for a coalition you have to give time and hence we are giving that time." Shinde said in absence of a clear verdict, giving time helps the situation.

"We are giving time because we have to facilitate. This way there is a always a possibility of government formation and this is a democratic process. Delhi's electorate has not given a full mandate to any party. BJP is not ready to form government despite having got maximum seats and Congress has given unconditional support to AAP and they will have to think about it and think it soon. Let's see what happens," he said.