Election Twist: Setback for AAP, Kejriwal; BJP likely to form govt in Delhi

New

, July 16: In a major setback for Aam Aadmi Party (

) and its convenor Arvind Kejriwal, sources informed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (

) is likely to form government in Delhi as the party is not willing to go for assembly election, yet again.

The national capital, which is currently under President rule, is expected to hold another assembly election by the end of 2014. Sources informed that both BJP and Congress were unwilling to contest election again. According to sources, BJP has been considering Jagdish Mukhi, one senior BJP leader's name as the Chief Minister of Delhi.

However, BJP did not issue any official statement regarding its plan of forming government in Delhi. Meanwhile, Jagdish Mukhi was quoted as saying, "Think that there is a misunderstanding." Mukhi's comment surfaced after the reports regarding BJP's plan.
In Delhi election, which was held in Dec 2013, the BJP had won 31 seats and its ally, the Akali Dal, had won one. At 32, they were four short of the magic number of 36.

Jagdish Mukhi, one senior BJP leader, may become Delhi CM

But three BJP MLAs also contested and won the Lok Sabha election in May 2014 - including the party's first choice for Chief Minister Harshvardhan, who is now Health Minister at the Centre.

The party's total has now declined to 29 MLAs along with its ally, but so has the strength of the House to 67. The BJP now needs the support of five more MLAs to stake claim to form government.

Earlier AAP, along with Congress support from outside, formed the government and Kejriwal had become the Chief Minister. However, he later had resigned as the CM and AAP dissolved the government.

AAP had won 28 seats and Congress had won 8. But both parties had experienced debacle in general election as BJP won all 7 seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and the AAP came at number 2 in more seats than the Congress.

Lok Sabha election results were a clear indication for AAP and Congress that both parties had lost its popularity in the national capital and a fresh assembly election may cause another debacle for both parties.

Speculations about BJP's decision of forming government in Delhi surfaced hours after Kejriwal's allegations that BJP has been trying to bribe AAP MLAs offering money.

Kejriwal's message, in Hindi, claimed: "The BJP is resorting to dishonest and highly unethical methods to form the government by offering Rs 20 crore each to many MLAs".

"It is completely wrong. If the BJP forms the government using such illegitimate methods and by spending hundreds of crores, then such a dishonest government will only increase your electricity bills, indulge in corruption and price rise," the audio said.

"This recorded message is now being sent to the people, using different platforms available for disseminating audio information," an Aam Aadmi Party leader said.

OneIndia News