Congress offers unconditional support to Aam Admi Party

NEW DELHI: Congress today sought to inject some life into government making in Delhi by offering unconditional support to Aam Admi Party which has so far expressed reluctance to take over reins of power.

Ahead of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's meeting with Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow, DPCC president J P Agarwal sent a letter to him offering support of its eight MLAs to the AAP so that a new government can be formed in the city.

However, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan immediately ruled out accepting the offer from Congress saying it was not in the business of giving or taking support.

"We have decided to extend unconditional support to AAP so that it can form a government. The people of Delhi must get a government. It is the responsibility of AAP now to form the government," Agarwal told PTI.

But Bhushan was quick to reject it saying, "we are not going to accept support".

The AAP has 28 MLAs in the 70-member assembly and with Congress' support, it can reach the magic figure of 36.

Yesterday, Jung had invited Kejriwal for discussion on government formation.

Earlier in the day, after a meeting of senior leaders, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said when legislature party chairman Arvind Kejriwal meets Jung tomorrow, he will tell him that the party does not have the majority and was not inclined to form a government.

Yesterday, the BJP, which is the single largest party with 31 seats plus ally Akali Dal's lone seat, turned down the Lt Governor's offer for government formation.

After the meeting with Jung, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan had said the party would like to sit in the opposition in view of the lack of clear mandate by people of Delhi.

He had said if any other party was interested in forming a government they are welcome but remained non-committal whether BJP would support such a formation.