Despite Aam Aadmi Party’s major win and Bhartiya Janata Party’s clear lead over both Congress and AAP, Delhi’s future hangs.
The biggest gainer in the Delhi assembly elections was the Aam Aadmi Party. The party performed a sensational political debut that decimated many a big names in political corridors.
The party practically wiped out Congress, which won only 8 seats, and halted the BJP’s march to power (which won 31 seats as the single-largest party). But AAP is not in a position to form a government in Delhi on its own.
The Bharatiya Janata Party faces the same problem. None of the parties have managed to touch the magic figure of 36 seats on the basis of which they can stake claim to form a stable government in the National Capital.
An unstable government or re-election stares in the face of Delhi as mandate has been split between the AAP and the BJP.
It may be expected from Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to invite the BJP to form the government in such a scenario as the party won majority of the seats.
Given that the AAP leadership has declared no support to either of its rival parties, the BJP will face a hard time reaching the tally of 36 even if Jung invites the BJP to form the state government.
Conventional wisdom also says if a new party gets such a large number of seats in its first attempt, it is better for it to take on the role of opposition to protect its credibility.
Now, the BJP is left with the choice of seeking support from Independent candidate and BJP rebel Rambir Shokeen, who has won from the Mundka constituency.
Shokeen was denied a ticket by the BJP. Instead, the party fielded former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma’s brother Azad Singh. Shokeen, who has won with a massive 52,564 votes against Singh’s 45,430, could prove crucial in the current scenario, and he is already taking advantage of the situation. He has reportedly demanded the post of deputy chief ministership from the BJP.
Another candidate whom the BJP could reach out to is Shoaib Iqbal of the JD(U). However, Iqbal who is elected from the Matia Mahal constituency, has already declared that he would not support the BJP.
Nevertheless, the four- term MLA who only recently joined the JD ( U), has been known to switch loyalty. Before joining the BJP’s former NDA ally, he was with Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti party.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Delhi in-charge Nitin Gadkari said: ‘We will form government if we get support. Otherwise, we would like to sit in the opposition.’
Indicating that the logjam may not be easy to resolve, Kejriwal said: “We are ready to sit in the opposition. We will never accept support from anyone.”
But AAP smpathiser Kiran Bedi has been advising the party leadership to join hands with BJP.
Whoever now thinks of forming the government in Delhi will have to seek the support of one of the other two parties. However, with the AAP categorically stating that it will neither offer nor take support from anyone, there appears to be an impasse.
The BJP finished with 32 seats (31, plus one seat from its ally SAD), four short of a simple majority as the AAP turned to be the giant killer, bagging 28 seats. And the Congress bagged only eight.
Three scenarios
1. The BJP can always stake claim to form the government as Kejriwal has clearly said that the AAP will not destabilise the government but the BJP will remain on the edge it can be unseated by the AAP and the Congress anytime.
2. The weakened Congress however would be vulnerable to poaching attempts, but this may not be easy given that the anti-defection law stipulates a two-thirds strength for the breakaway group to escape disqualification.
3. The other option is fresh elections. But with the AAP tasting success, the BJP will be jittery to opt for fresh poll as AAP’s mass appeal can increase as it has been seen that the Kejriwal’s party is a serious contender for power in Delhi. And there is no guarantee that in the fresh polls the BJP can win more seats than what it has got this assembly elections.
(with inputs from agencies)
