BJP gets more time but may avoid forming goverment

NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court giving the Centre 30 days to take a stand on Delhi, BJP has got more time to explore "all options". However, it is treading cautiously under attack from Aam Aadmi Party which is seeking support from all parties to stop it from forming the government. Spooked by AAP's sting operation on Delhi BJP vice-president Sher Singh Dagar, the party leadership has also cautioned its MLAs and party workers.

Sources say, while BJP is keeping its options open, it is unlikely to form the government. It is said to be looking at elections in January. While Delhi's lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung in his letter to the President has indicated that the single largest party be called to form the government, BJP doesn't have the numbers.

"A similar letter was sent to the President when AAP was invited to form the government. Who is he (Kejriwal) to stop any party from forming the government? When did we say that we are doing so? We have maintained that we will analyze the situation after we get an invite from the LG. His comments just reflect his desperation,'' said Satish Upadhyay, Delhi BJP president.

In the present scenario, BJP can form the government only if five AAP or Congress MLAs either resign or abstain from voting. "This seems unlikely. Moreover, any attempt to form the government will reflect poorly on the party,'' said a senior BJP leader.

Attacking Kejriwal for saying that he will not let BJP form the government, Upadhyay said, "Before Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal had claimed they he wouldn't let Narendra Modi become Prime Minister. Such statements are meaningless".

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal comes out of Supreme Court after hearing on a petition filed AAP seeking dissolution of the Assembly, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

BJP leaders say suspense over the party's stand on government formation is hurting its image, which has been damaged by AAP's sting. A lot of party related issues like re-structuring of the state unit and campaign plans have also been on hold.