Delhi deadlock: LG to hold talks with BJP, AAP, Congress

New Delhi: Rapped by the Supreme Court, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung will kick off consultations with BJP, AAP and Congress in the next couple of days in fresh efforts to install an elected government in the capital or dissolving the assembly to pave way for elections early next year.

Jung, who returned from abroad on Tuesday, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him possible solutions to end the political uncertainty in Delhi which is under President’s Rule since February after AAP quit power.

“In view of the President’s approval to explore the possibility of installing a popular government in Delhi, the Lt Governor would be exploring the possibilities with the leaders of all political parties over the next few days,” LG’s office said.

BJP, which is likely to be invited by Jung on Thursday for talks on government formation, did not give any clear signal on its strategy but there were indications that the party was preparing for fresh polls in January or February.

Sources said BJP President Amit Shah and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh were in favour of the party forming a government while some others were of the view that it should not run away from polls when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rating was high.

“There is a possibility of the party turning down offer of government formation,” a senior party leader said. The LG’s decision to begin consultations with the political parties came a day after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu slammed the Centre and the Lt Governor for delay in taking a decision on government formation in Delhi.

The case will come up for hearing on Thursday again. AAP and Congress on Wednesday came down hard on Jung, questioning his move to hold consultation with the parties when it was clear that no party was in a position to provide a stable government.

Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal’s lone MLA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in the 67-member assembly if it decides to form the government.

PTI