AAP released this video on Monday; NDTV cannot verify authenticity
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s claim that it has taped a BJP leader offering its legislator four crores to switch sides bore heavily on a hearing today in which the Supreme Court told the Centre to take steps "at the earliest" on government formation in Delhi - "Otherwise, horse-trading will continue."
The court's remarks came as the Centre said the political process of forming a government has begun after Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recommended last week that the single largest party should be invited.
The ruling BJP said it would consider forming a government the moment it received an invite.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was present today as his party filed a new affidavit urging a five-judge Constitutional bench to take note of the 'sting' video and stop the BJP from taking power. The BJP argued that the allegation of "horse-trading" was unsubstantiated.
The court said it would take up the AAP video on October 10, but also cautioned the Centre against delaying a decision.
"When we granted the Centre time, our intention was to arrive at a resolution so that either a government is formed or fresh elections held," the judges said.
On a lighter note, they wondered, "Why is it called horse-trading? Why not man-trading?"
In the 17-minute AAP video allegedly recorded on Sunday, the BJP's Sher Singh Dagar is seen talking to AAP legislator Dinesh Mohaniya. Mr Dagar did not deny the meeting at his residence, but said the video was edited and he had never offered money.
NDTV cannot independently verify the video or its contents.
"If the BJP tries to form a government by unscrupulous means, we will make more disclosures at an appropriate time," Mr Kejriwal said later.
The BJP and its allies have 29 seats between them and need at least five more. AAP has been accusing the BJP of trying to fill the gap by offering its legislators money and posts to cross over.
Delhi has been under central rule since February, when Mr Kejriwal quit as Chief Minister over his anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill. Later that month, the party moved the Supreme Court for another round of polls.