BJP may repeat Bihar history in Delhi and install Arvind Kejriwal CM with clean-image politicians from BJP in his cabinet.
So the early results on Delhi are out for 70/70 assembly seats. The anti-incumbency wave has given us Bhartiya Janata Party leading on 32 seats, Aam Aadmi Party 25 seats, Congress 9 and others 5. But the star of this show is AAP which did extra-ordinarily good in its debute stage.
The mandate is clearly of a hung assembly but this is not what the public votes for.
Also, the victory for AAP is very big but it will go to waste if it does not form a government in the capital.
Given the fact that the AAP has kept its stance clear since day one that it will not side with either Congress or BJP, this situation of hung assembly may look like a stark reality in the face of the anti-incumbency wave. But this should also be considered as a big negotiating point in the hand of AAP.
Experts are mulling that the Congress may extend its support to AAP for forming the government. But AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has garnered this much vote on the basis of anti-Congress sentiments. Also, the idea of forcing another election on the people of Delhi and letting governor-general rule seems a bit far-fetched.
It should be noted that few days ago there was an uproar when people in political circuits claimed that AAP had said that “if they had to make Narendra Modi PM, they will have to make Arvind Kejriwal CM”.
It may well become a reality. In Bihar, the BJP supported JD(U) and formed its leader Nitish Kumar the chief minister at a time when it could have made one of its own leader chief minister. The situation was same as it is in Delhi today. It is just another matter that both the parties were allies.
The BJP may well offer CM post to Kejriwal and negotiate on the points of keeping clean-image politician in the cabinet. For instance, Dr Harsh Vardhan is a clean image politician and AAP has till now not said anything against him.
Or, the most viable option for both BJP and AAP will be that the former extends ‘otside’ support to the party and lets its form the government.
This situation will be a win-win for all. For one, the AAP will form the government with its leader becoming CM.
Second, BJP will rise in the eyes of public making 2014 more easier for itself.
Third, AAP will not be seen by the public digressing on moral path or its promises.
Fourth – last and the most important part – people will not be forced with another election and they will be happy to see Kejriwal becoming CM.
If not, Delhi people should brace for another election.
It is for the first time that the Delhites went out and recoded 65% voting. Next time, who knows what will happen?
