AAP's Prashant Bhushan says party can extend issue-based support to BJP in Delhi
Arvind Kejriwal today asserted that there was "no question" of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporting the BJP for a government in Delhi, countering a comment by his colleague Prashant Bhushan that had triggered speculation of a divide in the year-old party just after its spectacular electoral success.
"There is no question of supporting BJP. Prashant was not at the meeting with us yesterday. what he said was his personal opinion," Mr Kejriwal said reacting to Mr Bhushan's interview to NDTV last night.
Mr Bhushan himself issued a disclaimer today after saying last night that the AAP may consider supporting the BJP "if the BJP gives us in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill(a law for an anti-corruption ombudsman) by December 29."
He now clarifies, "What I said was in a rhetorical context. I meant that if the BJP becomes like AAP and does those things which AAP has been formed for and AAP believes in, then we can think of supporting them. But this is not possible because these parties can never become like AAP."
Mr Bhushan's remarks had deeply embarrassed the party after Mr Kejriwal repeatedly ruled out giving or taking support for a government in Delhi, where no party has won a clear majority in last week's polls.
The BJP emerged the largest party with 31 seats, but five short of a majority in the 70-member assembly. The AAP scored a dazzling debut, finishing a close second pushing the incumbent Congress to a poor third. Both the BJP and AAP have refused to stake claim to power and say they would rather sit in opposition, raising the possibility of fresh polls in Delhi along with the national election due by May.
Mr Kejriwal says the AAP, which has 28 seats, is prepared to fight another election, but won't support either the Congress or BJP as both are corrupt and aligning with either would be betrayal.