Power cut politics: Why no one wants a repoll in Delhi

New Delhi: A power crisis situation in Delhi is forcing the BJP, AAP and the Congress to rethink the assembly polls. The assembly has been suspended since mid-February. Power cuts in Delhi incidentally have different political meaning for the three parties in Delhi—BJP, AAP and Congress. The BJP is aware that sustained power cuts mean that its electoral prospects could be affected adversely and thus newly appointed Energy Minister Piyush Goel is making all efforts to do his bit to improve the situation. If in the process, he may temporarily look like energy minister for Delhi than for the nation, he would not mind it and his party would love to see him succeed. While much would depend on how effectively Piyush Goel can handle the situation, indecision on the fate of Delhi assembly is attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inability to spare time to take a view on the subject. It may still take some more time because Modi has to concentrate on few other more pressing issues like presentation of his government’s first Budget, finding a full time defence minister, Cabinet expansion and  a new party president. [caption id=“attachment_1571505” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] Meanwhile, a new situation has emerged in the BJP. The party is exploring options to form a government in the existing Delhi assembly. The move, though disliked by a section of senior leaders, has suddenly gained momentum as most BJP MLAs don’t want to go for fresh elections. Technically, the assembly has not been dissolved to give adequate time to the political parties concerned in the state to make an effort to form a government, so fresh elections are avoided. With Dr Harshvardhan becoming Health Minister at the centre, the vacancy for chief ministerial position on the BJP side has become an issue. Some have already started relishing such a prospect. A section of middle rung party leaders are in touch with Congress legislators. Three BJP MLAs including Harshvardhan have become MPs and their seats will have to be vacated. The BJP does not have a “good” leader who could be termed as chief ministerial material in the existing assembly but that has not deterred the MLAs and their backers from making the move. In fact it has only given fillip to their enthusiasm. But another BJP leader said such a move would be “ill conceived and ill timed."  “Why should we indulge in jod-tod politics when we have got such a decisive mandate at the centre and Modi has been up on the issue of probity and delivery?”, he asked. “It would also give an unwarranted push to Kejriwal’s otherwise doomed prospects. Moreover, the Budget session, practically first session of Parliament, is less than a month away. It is time to go with a positive mindset than needlessly attract great deal of negative media publicity,” the BJP leader said. If latter view holds ground then two possibilities emerge – first, hold elections with Maharastra, Haryana and Jharkhand. That decision could be taken once the Election Commission begins the process of preparatory consultation with the Centre. Second, hold Delhi elections after this round of elections. BJP is expected to do well in all these states. Their impact on popular psyche will make it easier for the BJP to make popular mobilisation. That would also give time to the Modi government to set things right in Delhi. The BJP leadership, however, is maintaining a tight leash on any out of order remark by the middle rung leaders. The back channel talks between the Aam Admi Party and the Congress to take a fresh shot at government formation are on, though both the parties officially deny it. The Aam Admi Party and Congress are making power cuts in the capital a big issue, even as the fact remains that the current power situation or the lack of it, is a legacy of 15-years of Congress rule. The Congress too realises that it could make a new beginning via politics on power. The BJP, on the other hand, realises that blaming the previous Congress or AAP governments would not work in the long run and it has to provide solutions fast to be the preferred choice.