"It is for the BJP to get the numbers. It is not our job," Sheila Dikshit has said.
New Delhi:
Under attack from the Congress for her comment on giving the BJP a chance to form the government in Delhi, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has clarified she was merely stating the "factual and constitutional" provisions.
Ms Dikshit's comments on Wednesday had been read as supporting the BJP bid for government formation. While the BJP welcomed it, the Congress had severely criticised her.
Today, asked how BJP can form a government as both Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had ruled out support to it, Ms Dikshit told the Press Trust of India, "It is for the BJP to get the numbers".
"It is not our job. If they have the numbers, that's the only way they can form a government. What I said was factual and constitutional," she said.
Asked about Congress' criticism, Ms Dikshit said the party probably did not understand her comments. The former Chief Minister, who was made to resign as Kerala Governor last month, said she cannot think of backing the BJP.
"It's not about my supporting or anybody supporting them (the BJP). I was stating a purely constitutional requirement. The Lieutenant Governor has to be satisfied that they have a majority and only then they can form a government," she said.
The Capital has been under central rule since February after AAP chief Mr Arvind Kejriwal ended his minority government's tenure less than two months after it took office.
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has advised President Pranab Mukherjee that the BJP should be invited to prove its strength in the legislature. The BJP has not yet indicated whether it will accept the chance should it be offered.
The Congress, and much more vociferously, AAP, have been arguing that new elections must be held in Delhi.
Asked what would be the option if the BJP could not get the required numbers, Ms Dikshit said in that situation fresh elections will have to be held.
Ms Dikshit's comments on Wednesday had been read as supporting the BJP bid for government formation. While the BJP welcomed it, the Congress had severely criticised her.
Today, asked how BJP can form a government as both Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had ruled out support to it, Ms Dikshit told the Press Trust of India, "It is for the BJP to get the numbers".
"It is not our job. If they have the numbers, that's the only way they can form a government. What I said was factual and constitutional," she said.
Asked about Congress' criticism, Ms Dikshit said the party probably did not understand her comments. The former Chief Minister, who was made to resign as Kerala Governor last month, said she cannot think of backing the BJP.
"It's not about my supporting or anybody supporting them (the BJP). I was stating a purely constitutional requirement. The Lieutenant Governor has to be satisfied that they have a majority and only then they can form a government," she said.
The Capital has been under central rule since February after AAP chief Mr Arvind Kejriwal ended his minority government's tenure less than two months after it took office.
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has advised President Pranab Mukherjee that the BJP should be invited to prove its strength in the legislature. The BJP has not yet indicated whether it will accept the chance should it be offered.
The Congress, and much more vociferously, AAP, have been arguing that new elections must be held in Delhi.
Asked what would be the option if the BJP could not get the required numbers, Ms Dikshit said in that situation fresh elections will have to be held.
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