‘Dissolve Delhi assembly in a week’

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Sunday put the Centre on a week’s notice: pave the way for fresh elections in Delhi or face agitation.

Speaking at Jantar Mantar, Kejriwal said, “We are giving one week to the Centre, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the BJP to dissolve the Delhi assembly or else we will go to every house, undertake signature campaigns and get the whole of Delhi to rise and demand immediate elections.”

Seeing a chance to reclaim what he once gave up and buoyed by the presence of thousands of volunteers, the former Delhi CM said, “Today’s crowd must send a message to the government that Delhi cannot be made to suffer.”

“The BJP, which is ruling Delhi by proxy, does not want elections as their internal survey says if polls are held today, they will be decimated. Congress may not retain even two of its 8 seats,” he added.

The rally comes two days before the Supreme Court will start hearing AAP’s petition that seeks fresh elections in Delhi.

“Kejriwal had also met President Pranab Mukherjee and Jung to press for fresh elections. Plea not heard, he is back to basics - taking to streets, something he had shunned after public criticism for his Rail Bhawan dharna last winter.

Interestingly, Sunday’s demonstration comes exactly two years after Kejriwal first spoke of forming a political party during an agitation at Jantar Mantar. At that time, the budding politician was sharing the stage with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.