New Delhi:
The Congress on Friday evening offered unconditional support to the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP, should they choose to form the government in Delhi. The proposal sent the party's top leadership into a huddle at AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal's house late in the evening.
Mr Kejriwal, who led the one-year-old party in a stunning debut in the recent elections, is scheduled to meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today. The Lieutenant Governor is expected to ask Mr Kejriwal to try and form the government. The BJP, which won the most seats but did not get a majority, turned down a similar invite on Thursday.
The Congress, in a letter written to Mr Jung, said, "The Indian National Congress is willing to offer unconditional outside support to AAP if they are ready to form the government... We don't want to put an extra burden on the people."
While AAP leadership discussed and examined the proposal, officially there has been no change in its stated stance of not accepting or extending support either to or from the BJP and Congress.
Mr Kejriwal has been categorical of not extending or accepting support, however, some elements in the party are of the view that outside support may be considered, more to use the opportunity and to show that the party can deliver and effectively rule.
Sources in the AAP say the party is expected to make a formal statement after meeting Mr Jung.
The AAP placed an impressive second in the election with 28 seats. The Congress performed abysmally, winning eight. Combined, they cross the half-way mark of 35.
But since it delivered its phenomenal result, the AAP has steadfastly vowed that it will not align with either the Congress or the BJP, who it has classified as corrupt and communal parties.
Earlier on Friday, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said a collaboration with the Congress was untenable.
The AAP's Teflon-strength showing was based on its promise to fight corruption. The BJP has noted how handsomely that positioning paid off. So it has said it will not attempt to win over elected candidates from other parties or horse-trade just to stomp its way into power.
Mr Kejriwal, who led the one-year-old party in a stunning debut in the recent elections, is scheduled to meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today. The Lieutenant Governor is expected to ask Mr Kejriwal to try and form the government. The BJP, which won the most seats but did not get a majority, turned down a similar invite on Thursday.
The Congress, in a letter written to Mr Jung, said, "The Indian National Congress is willing to offer unconditional outside support to AAP if they are ready to form the government... We don't want to put an extra burden on the people."
While AAP leadership discussed and examined the proposal, officially there has been no change in its stated stance of not accepting or extending support either to or from the BJP and Congress.
Mr Kejriwal has been categorical of not extending or accepting support, however, some elements in the party are of the view that outside support may be considered, more to use the opportunity and to show that the party can deliver and effectively rule.
Sources in the AAP say the party is expected to make a formal statement after meeting Mr Jung.
The AAP placed an impressive second in the election with 28 seats. The Congress performed abysmally, winning eight. Combined, they cross the half-way mark of 35.
But since it delivered its phenomenal result, the AAP has steadfastly vowed that it will not align with either the Congress or the BJP, who it has classified as corrupt and communal parties.
Earlier on Friday, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said a collaboration with the Congress was untenable.
The AAP's Teflon-strength showing was based on its promise to fight corruption. The BJP has noted how handsomely that positioning paid off. So it has said it will not attempt to win over elected candidates from other parties or horse-trade just to stomp its way into power.
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