EC says it is monitoring situation for holding bypolls in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is monitoring developments related to government formation in the national capital and will accordingly take a decision on holding bypolls to three vacant assembly seats, Chief Election Commission V S Sampath today said.

The poll body, however, added that although it was monitoring the situation, the process of government formation was beyond its jurisdiction.

"Three seats...we are watching. We still have some time. If there is a dissolution then there is no point holding the elections. If there is formation of a government then we will see (on when to conduct elections).

The Commission will be in readiness whenever there will be polls but as far as government formation in Delhi is concerned, it is not under our purview," Sampath said in a response to a question.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has already written to the President seeking his advice on whether the BJP, being the single largest party, should be invited to form a government. However, the saffron party lacks majority.

In the 70-member Delhi assembly, BJP won 31 seats in the assembly elections held in December last year. But three seats fell vacant as its legislators Ramesh Kumar Bidhuri, Harsh Vardhan and Parvesh Verma were elected as MPs.

After their election to the Lok Sabha, the trio resigned from their assembly seats bringing the BJP's tally to 28.