BJP leadership to take a call on Delhi after sorting out Maharashtra

The Lt Governor last month had sent a report to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking permission to invite the BJP to form a government in Delhi.

In the report, Jung gave a detailed analysis of the political situation and underlined the need to have an elected government in the city which is under President's rule since February 17 following resignation of the Aam Aadmi Party Government which was in power for 49 days.

The Centre is yet to respond to the Lt Governor's letter. The BJP has been maintaining that it will take a decision on government formation in Delhi after getting an invite from the Lt Governor.

In his report to Mukherjee, the Lt Governor said though no party has staked claim to form government in Delhi, BJP could be invited to take the reins as it is the single largest party in the assembly.

Jung observed that all options for putting in place an elected government should be explored before contemplating holding of fresh polls.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar on October 10 had submitted before a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that Jung's proposal to the President was still under consideration.

He had informed the court that Centre's stand on government formation in Delhi will be known after Diwali.

The next date of hearing in the case is October 28. Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in the assembly.

The party had emerged the single largest party after the assembly polls in December last year with 32 seats including ally Akali Dal's one MLA in the 70-member House.

BJP fell four seats short of a simple majority and had refused to form government saying it did not have the numbers and will not resort to any "unfair means" to take the reins.

AAP with 28 MLAs had later formed the government with support of eight Congress MLAs.

BJP's number came down to 28 in the House in May after three of its legislators Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma were elected to Lok Sabha.

The government led by Arvind Kejriwal had resigned on 14 February after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.

President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17. The Lt Governor had not favoured dissolution of the Delhi assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the assembly in suspended animation.

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have been demanding immediate dissolution of the assembly to pave way for holding of fresh election.

BJP leadership is busy with Maharashtra where it has emerged as the single largest party in the 288-member Assembly with 122 seats, but is short of majority. While NCP has already offered unconditional outside support by its 41 MLAs, back channel talks are on between BJP and its erstwhile ally Shiv Sena.

The BJP legislature party will meet in coming days to decide the Chief Minister.