BJP WANTS DELHI RULE, FINAL CALL ON PM’s RETURN

The BJP will take the final call on forming the government in Delhi after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from Brics summit in Brazil, HT has learnt.

The party is also set to name Janakpuri MLA Prof Jagdish Mukhi as the leader of the BJP legislature party, but only if it decides to form the government. This means Mukhi would be the CM of the next BJP-led government in Delhi, if formed.

A BJP source told HT that party leaders – both at the Centre and in the state – have consulted MLAs, most of whom who are in favour of forming the government with support of turncoat Congress MLAs.

“The details of deliberations will be placed before the PM and he will take the final call,” a BJP leader told HT. Congress MLA Haroon Yusuf, however, accused the BJP of spreading rumours and said there was no split in the party. “We are united. No MLA is leaving us,” he told HT. Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely too dismissed the reports.

Presently, t he BJP- SAD alliance has 29 MLAs and is counting on support of independent le gislator Rambir Shooken and Laxmi Nagar MLA Vinod Kumar Binny, who was expelled from the AAP.

This still leaves the BJP three MLAs short of a simple majority in the assembly. Speculation is rife that at least six MLAs have sent feelers to the BJP about their willingness to support a BJP government.

“It is up to the L-G to decide whether he will dissolve the assembly or explore possibilities of government formation with parties. We will form a view only when the L-G invites us for a discussion,” Delhi BJP in-charge Prabhat Jha told HT.

But others in the BJP ranks are hesitant. A BJP leader told HT that some MLAs feared that recent water and power shortage, rising prices of vegetables and other issues may lead to electoral reverses if

fresh election were held.