BJP ropes in Akalis to split Congress, form government in Delhi

NEW DELHI: For BJP to reach the magical figure of 34 in the Delhi Assembly, its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is learned to be in talks with a group of Congress MLAs who may be willing to support a BJP-led government. The Delhi assembly has 70 seats, of which three are vacant.

Speculation is rife that a breakaway faction of Congress MLAs might join SAD (Badal). Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay's aborted visit to the LG on Thursday had also sparked rumours of the party being confident of managing the numbers.

While senior Akali leaders dismissed reports of engineering a Congress split, the party has kept all the options open. "If there is a situation where Congress or AAP MLAs want to join us, I'll consult the party high command. Also, we need to see the profile of these people. So far, I have not got any such proposal,'' said Manjit Singh GK, president of SAD (Badal) Delhi.

Sources say consultation is on between leaders of SAD (Badal) and other political parties to explore the possibility of government formation. On Thursday, Union home minister and former BJP president Rajnath Singh dismissed reports that the party is trying to lure MLAs of other parties. "BJP has never done any horse-trading, nor will it in future. The question does not arise," he said.

In the present scenario, Akali leaders say, no MLA is interested in a re-election. If BJP is able to form the government, it will benefit Congress, too, as it will get some time to resurrect the party in the city. As for BJP, it will get a chance to deliver on its election manifesto promises.

With the recent change of guard in Delhi BJP, leaders say, they need time to streamline the functioning of the party. Upadhyay has already hinted at a major reshuffle in the organization. "With the appointment of new key post holders, the party will need time to prepare for elections,'' said a BJP leader.

As for the Akalis, an increase in their strength in the assembly will give them greater say in the government. Sources say the party can then demand some key departments.

Though BJP is confident that it holds the upper hand in the capital, it is wary of a collapse in the Congress vote that led to an increase in Aam Admi Party support in the Lok Sabha election despite the middle class largely opting for Modi in the Lok Sabha election.

Presently, BJP needs the support of 34 MLAs to form the government as there are three vacancies in the 70-member assembly. If six of eight Congress MLAs break away, they will not attract the anti-defection law and BJP can comfortably form a stable government.