BJP working on options to form Delhi NCT govt

New Delhi: The BJP is looking at the option of forming government in Delhi. The saffron party, which has 29 MLAs at this juncture, is likely to get the support of expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny and one Independent, Rambir Showkeen, taking its tally to 31. With 34 required for a simple majority in the House of 67, BJP spin doctors are reportedly in talks with at least three Congress MLAs to abstain during the vote of confidence.

With a large chunk of legislators expressing strong reservation over fresh election, the BJP is looking at an option to form the government in the city. The saffron party, which has 29 MLAs at this juncture as its three other legislators have already made it to the Lok Sabha, is likely to get the support of expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny and one Independent Rambir Showkeen, taking its tally to 31. With 34 required for a simple majority in the House of 67, the BJP spin doctors are reportedly in talks with at least three Congress MLAs to abstain during the vote of confidence, which will bring down the strength of the House making it easy for the BJP to sail through.

Fearing defeat in the event of the city going for fresh elections, highlyplaced sources said that the three Congress MLAs had conveyed to their leaders that the party should help newbie AAP to again form the government in the city. When the Congress officially announced that it was not going to support the AAP, some BJP leaders are said to have sought their support in the government formation. “If the three abstain on the day of voting, the BJP can easily form the government,” a top source told this newspaper.

It is learnt that the BJP is also expecting that some of the AAP MLAs may also extend their support to the saffron outfit. AAP MLA Rajesh Garg has reportedly said that he was in favour of his party taking over the reins of the Delhi government. At the same time, he pointed out that former finance minister and BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi had reportedly told him on his visit to Varanasi that some 10 AAP MLAs were in touch with his party. Mr Mukhi had reportedly told him that once Mr Narendra Modi takes charge at the Centre, his party would stake claim to form the government.

Mr Mukhi, who briefed the RSS leaders about the political developments in Delhi, is also said to be in race for the chief ministership. After meeting the RSS top brass, Mr Mukhi said that apart from holding fresh elections, there were other options open as well. Even Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan said that his party does not have numbers to form the government, but admitted that the fresh elections were bound to put an extra burden on Delhiites.

Sources said that Gujjar leader Ramvir Singh Bhiduri is also in the chief ministership race. “That precisely why both Mr Mukhi and Mr Bhiduri have been meeting saffron party leaders Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Rajiv Pratap Rudy,” a local BJP leader said.

Legally, the Delhi Assembly, which is under suspended animation, can convene a session only after a proper representation is made by any political party to stake claim to form the government to l i e u t e n a n t - g o v e r n o r Najeeb Jung, who is incharge of the administration, after the President’s Rule was invoked in the city. The party, which stakes claim to form the government, has to prove its majority in the House.

Once any party proves its majority, it can run the government for at least six months. “Till the time, one will have to prove its majority again, the bypolls will be held on the three seats, which are likely to be vacated by the three legislators who have been elected to the Lok Sabha,” a BJP leader said.