Arvind Kejriwal seeks "people's mandate" over Congress' offer to form government

NEW DELHI: Congress, in a deft move on the political chessboard, on Monday agreed to all 18 conditions laid down by Aam Aadmi Party, virtually forcing Arvind Kejriwal to walk the talk and form a government in Delhi. But the newbie party, in a counter-move to the Grand Old Party's checkmate attempt, said it would put up Congress' offer before the Aam Aadmi's court.

AAP, instead of accepting or rejecting Congress's support to all its 18 conditions, is expected to send out a one-line resolution to all the 280 wards of Delhi to be endorsed by the people. The BJP leadership, meanwhile, decided not to support AAP's conditions.

The participants at the ward-level meetings could be cadre of the Aam Aadmi Party, supporters or just voters.

The decision to form a government or for Kejriwal to reject Congress' unconditional, outside support, will be taken only after all the ward-level meetings are over. The people who converge at these ward meetings are expected to vote on the resolution. The exercise to seek the "people's mandate" may get over during the weekend.

Senior AAP leaders told, on the condition of anonymity, that the party will definitely consider forming the government in the Capital. "The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) will meet on Tuesday to decide on further course of action. We will also go to the people for their mandate on this development," said party spokesperson Manish Sisodia.

Putting the ball back in AAP's court, Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, in his reply to Kejriwal, said that 16 out of the 18 demands made by him can be executed through administrative decisions and do not require the approval of the legislative assembly. As for the remaining conditions - full statehood for Delhi and passage of Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, Ahmed said that these were outside the purview of state government's powers, but Congress will support AAP in achieving these as well.

"The issue of full statehood for Delhi was one of the promises made by Congress in its manifesto. As for Jan Lokpal, we have said that we will support them if they want to make any changes in the Lokayukta Act of Delhi if it is not contrary to any law passed by Parliament," said Ahmed.

Ahmed's reply is in response to Kejriwal's letter to party president Sonia Gandhi and her BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh, asking them to clarify their stand on various promises made by AAP in its election manifesto. Questioning the motive behind Congress' offer of unconditional support and BJP's promise to provide "constructive cooperation", Kejriwal had said last Saturday that his party will form the government only if the mainstream parties agree to support radical reforms such as passage of Jan Lokpal Bill, audit of discoms, and stripping elected MLAs and councillors of privileges and VIP status.

TheL-G meanwhile has recommended President’s rule in Delhi among other options to end the deadlock over government formation. “The L-G has given a report on Delhi with a few options. We are examining it. We are not bound by any date such as December 18 to take a decision. The assembly has already been notified on December 10,” said Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

According to ministry sources, the L-G has informed the President that BJP is not in a position to form a government while AAP has sought more time. The L-G’s report will go to the Cabinet, which will decide the fate of state’s governance.