Secret ballot by MLAs to elect CM is an option: Delhi BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP, the largest party in the now suspended Delhi assembly, on Friday said it will “minutely” consider any offer to form the government in the Capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Rajnath Singh and senior leader and Delhi in-charge Nitin Gadkari held a meeting on Friday night to take a call on government formation in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Delhi leader Jagdish Mukhi has emerged as the likely CM candidate owing to his roots and experience in Delhi politics; also because of his clean image. The feeling within the party is that he is the safest option since anybody else could create a controversy and infighting in the Delhi unit.

The party’s Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay pointed out that minority governments have indeed run successfully in the past, adding that there was a provision in the law that offered legislators the option to choose the chief minister through a secret ballot. There was no clear winner in the elections to the Delhi assembly held in December 2013.

BJP emerged the largest party with 32 MLAs, three of whom have since resigned as they were elected to the Lok Sabha. AAP has 27 MLAs, while Congress has four. “No one wants a fresh election in Delhi. However, BJP is ready for an election tomorrow if it is the case,” Upadhyay said after meeting Home minister Rajnath Singh.

This comes after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung sent a report to the Centre, asking for permission to explore the possibilities of government formation and discuss the matter with the largest party — BJP. After the President’s House forwarded the report to the MHA on Friday, Gadkari and Upadhyay had long meetings with Singh. These fast-paced developments come ahead of a crucial hearing by the Supreme Court on September 9.

The court will hear the home ministry on the steps it has taken to form a government in the capital. ET was the first to report on August 30 about the possibility of a secret ballot to break the deadlock in Delhi assembly. Rajnath Singh said “BJP will take a call” on the LG’s report on whether it has the requisite numbers to form the next government.

AAP, meanwhile, attacked Jung for promoting “horse-trading” and sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee to stop the Delhi LG from initiating government formation talks with BJP. “It will be a rape of Constitution if a party which has refused to form government once, is invited to form the government,” AAP leader Ashutosh said.