M A I N   N E W S

Government Formation in DELHI
SC sets Oct 10 deadline for Centre
Tribune News Service

Kejriwal flays LG Jung AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal criticised Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung objecting to the ‘language’ in his September 4 letter to the President AAP said it would launch a campaign to expose the BJP through the 'sting video' AAP charged that the latter was attempting to reach out to MLAs belonging to other parties

New Delhi, September 9
The possibility of the formation of the next government in Delhi today made little headway with the BJP awaiting a move by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung who came under attack from the Aam Aadmi Party.

On a day when the Supreme Court set October 10 deadline for the Centre to inform the court on the outcome of efforts of the Delhi LG on government formation, the BJP heaved a sigh of relief as the apex court did not take on record additional affidavit and other material, including the alleged CD showing a sting operation, brought by the AAP alleging horse-trading by the BJP to secure a majority in the Assembly.

A five-judge Bench headed by Justice HL Dattu passed the order after Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha informed the court that Jung had written to President Pranab Mukherjee on September 4 seeking permission to invite the single largest party (BJP) to form the government.

The Bench clarified that it would not like to keep pending for a long AAP’s plea to dissolve the Assembly. The party sought fresh Assembly polls to prevent horse-trading and provide an elected government to the people.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues criticised the LG objecting to the “language” in his September 4 letter to the President. “Language is not appropriate.... the LG needs to revise his letter to the President,” Kejriwal said.

Releasing a copy of the LG’s letter to the media at the Ghaziabad office, the AAP upped the ante against the BJP announcing it would launch a campaign to expose the BJP through the “sting video”. The party charged that the latter was trying to reach out to MLAs belonging to the Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and others, including Laxmi Nagar MLA Vinod Kumar Binny, in an attempt to form a government through “horse-trading”. The party reiterated its decision to seek fresh elections for the Delhi Assembly even as JD(U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal pledged support to the AAP while rebel AAP MLA Binny seems to be favouring the LG’s proposal to invite the BJP saying “after the AAP ran away in 49 days from power, the BJP can be given a chance to form the government”.

The AAP would tomorrow hand over the “sting footage” purportedly showing Delhi BJP vice-president Sher Singh Dagar allegedly offering bribe to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya to the President and the Delhi Police Commissioner for the purpose of an FIR.

Kejriwal said if need arose his party would bring out more such sting videos while claiming that the BJP had approached 15 AAP MLAs in a bid to form the government. After a meeting of the state unit, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhaya said if invited by the LG, the party would analyse the situation. While there was no official word on who could be the CM, a section favours former Finance Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi amidst opposition from another quarter.