BJP set to form government in Delhi after PM Narendra Modi's nod

NEW DELHI: BJP has decided to give government formation in Delhi a shot, putting to rest the controversy surrounding the issue.

Top leaders in BJP confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believed that there was nothing wrong in forming the government if and when Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung formally invited the party. The process is likely to be completed within next two weeks.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and transport minister Nitin Gadkari had met Modi on late September 5 to discuss the issue. "It was decided that being the single largest party, BJP would be right in accepting the invite. However, both, the PM and Rajnath Singh were very clear that there should be no horsetrading," revealed a senior party leader.

There were indications that LG had got the clearance from President Pranab Mukherjee to call BJP, as the single largest party, to form the government in Delhi.

"The assembly had not been dissolved. As per the constitutional provisions, the LG has to give a chance to the largest party once. It is up to the LG whether he calls for a secret ballot among MLAs to see how many support BJP or ask BJP to prove majority on the floor of the assembly," said a Delhi BJP leader.

He said that there was no need for BJP to indulge in horse-trading as there were several MLAs from AAP who wanted to come on their own.

"When AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal went to meet the LG, why were some of his MLAs missing," questioned the Delhi BJP leader.

BJP decided to give government formation a shot considering that not even a single MLA wanted another election.