LG recommends President`s rule in Delhi as AAP, BJP fail to form government

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has recommended President`s rule in Delhi, saying that the state Assembly should be kept in suspended animation, as per reports on Monday. Imposition of Central rule was was one of the options listed by Jung in his report submitted to the Union Home Ministry after his wide-ranging consultations with BJP, the single largest party, followed by the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), official sources said today. No party was able to get majority in Delhi, the results for which was declared on December 08. The BJP secured 31 seats and the Aam Admin Party was able to win 28 seats with the Congress being reduced to 08 seats in the 70 member House. The LG first invited the BJP to form the government as it had emerged as the single largest party. However, BJP`s CM candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan declined the offer saying that he could not prove majority on the floor of the House. The AAP, which was invited next, also said that they did not have the majority. However, a twist in the tale came when the Congress offered the AAP unconditional support to form the government. Following which the AAP on Saturday sought 10 days` time from Delhi Lt Governor to decide on government formation, and asked the Congress to clear its stand on 18 issues it listed in letter to party president Sonia Gandhi. The points included: Regularisation of unauthorised colonies, pukka (concrete) houses for slum dwellers, 500 new schools, regular jobs for those working on contract basis with the Delhi government, full statehood for Delhi and control over Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Police by the state government and not the centre, and provision for people to make decisions at "mohalla sabhas" or neighbourhood gatherings. Meanwhile, the Congress today sent a detailed response to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal over the points raised by him. Speaking to the media, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said that 16 out of 18 issues raised by the AAP were totally administrative. He added that to implement them no party needed any support or approval from the state Assembly. The other two issues - Lokpal Bill and giving statehood to Delhi – did not fall within state Assembly’s domain, he said. Reacting to the Congress` reply, AAP leader Manish Sisodia told a news agency that the political affairs committee will meet and discuss the matter and will go to the people for opinion. With PTI inputs