New Delhi:
The BJP today virtually told its 31 newly-elected legislators in Delhi to prepare for fresh polls. It's been two days since election results were announced in the capital, but neither the BJP, which is the single-largest party in a hung House, nor Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party, which came in at number 2, have made any move towards government formation.
Here are 10 big developments in this story:
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that the Centre has received no word from Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, on the imposition of President's Rule. "We are watching the situation," the minister said.
At a meeting, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari told the party's 31 newly-elected legislators in Delhi that they must "think of themselves not as MLAs, but as candidates." The sub-text - prepare for fresh elections. The MLAs today met party chief Rajnath Singh.
If neither the BJP nor AAP stake claim soon to form government, Mr Jung will be forced to recommend imposition of President's Rule. That will necessitate fresh elections within six months.
The BJP is five MLAs short of a majority in the 70-seat Delhi Assembly. It says it will not indulge in horse trading to bridge the deficit. With national elections just months away, the party wants to signal that it will abstain from the machinations it would take to form a majority in order to govern Delhi.
Arvind Kejriwal reiterated today that there is no question of his Aam Aadmi Party, which won 28 seats, providing any kind of support that would allow the BJP to form the government in Delhi.
His colleague, Prashant Bhushan, had suggested last evening that the AAP could provide issue-based support to the BJP. Mr Kejriwal said Mr Bhushan was expressing his personal and not the party opinion.
Like the BJP, AAP has said it does not have the mandate to form the government and will serve in the Opposition.
Mr Kejriwal has rejected any notion of accepting external support from the Congress to form government.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years straight, was decimated in last week's election. It won only 8 seats. AAP needs the support of eight MLAs more to be able to form government.
The Delhi Assembly has 70 seats. A party needs 36 to be able to form government. The BJP and its ally, Akali Dal, have 32; AAP has 28; the Congress 8 and there is one Independent and one Janata Dal (United) member in the new House.
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