President gives nod to call BJP for government formation in New Delhi

New Delhi: The uncertainty over government formation in the nation’s capital is likely to end soon with the Supreme Court putting the issue on fast track, as President Pranab Mukherjee accepted lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung’s proposal that the BJP be asked to form the government.

While deciding to hear on Thursday the AAP’s petition seeking dissolution of the Delhi Assembly, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu severely criticised both the Centre and the lieutenant-governor for the five-month delay in taking a decision.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the Centre told the court that the President had given his consent  to the L-G’s proposal to invite the BJP to form the government. But the court asked why there was a five-month delay in breaking the deadlock in Delhi. It said: “The L-G should have taken the decision at the earliest. In a democratic setup, the people have a right to a government.”

The Supreme Court asked why the Centre always comes out with one statement or another just a day before the matter is taken up for hearing. “Just before the matter is taken up for hearing, you make a statement. Why was it not decided earlier? How long can you go on like this? We can’t shrug our responsibility, and we will hear the case on merit.”

Soon after the court hearing, the AAP and the Congress attacked the BJP for seeking to form a minority government in Delhi, and dared it to face fresh elections. “If they (BJP) have even a little shame, they should hold fresh elections,” AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal said. “The BJP has been making attempts to poach over our MLAs.”

Congress spokesman Mukesh Sharma said the L-G must act in a constitutional manner and it was his prime duty to ensure there was no horse-trading in the Delhi Assembly. As the BJP does not have the numbers to form a government, he said fresh elections were the only way out to ensure a free and fair government in Delhi.

There are some indications that the L-G may invite the BJP to stake claim to government formation on Wednesday, a day before the matter comes up in the Supreme Court.

While a large section of BJP MLAs are in favour of forming a government, senior leader and Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the party was prepared for polls, and whenever elections were held in Delhi, it would win with a clear majority.

Mr Naidu rejected the AAP charge of trying to poach MLAs, saying there was no question of horse-trading. “Why will the BJP be afraid of polls? We have a very good chance of winning in Delhi with a full majority.” Delhi BJP president Satish Updhadyay said the party would take a decision at the appropriate time, after it got an invitation from the L-G on government formation.

At present, there is no party in the Delhi Assembly that can form a majority government on its own. After three BJP MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha, the BJP and its allies are left with only 29 legislators in the reduced House of 67. The saffron party will need the support of 34 MLAs to form a majority government in this House.