Najeeb Jung to talk to parties on government formation, meets Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Oct 29: Lt Governor Najeeb Jung decided to invite political parties to explore possibility of government formation in Delhi, a day after Supreme Court's rap over delay in taking a decision on the issue.

Jung, who had come back from abroad last night, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning and apprised him of his move to call the parties before taking a final decision on ending the political uncertainty in Delhi which is under President's Rule since February after AAP government's resignation.

"In view of the President's approval to explore the possibility of installing a popular government in Delhi, the Lt Governor would be exploring the possibilities with the leaders of all political parties over the next few days," LG's office said.

Sources in LG's office said BJP, the single largest party in the Assembly, may be invited "at the earliest" to know their views on government formation followed by AAP and Congress.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court that President Pranab Mukherjee had accepted a proposal by the LG to invite the BJP to take a shot at the power in Delhi.

Hearing a petition filed by AAP seeking dissolution of the Assembly, a five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had put the issue on a fast forward mode as it slammed the Centre and the Lt Governor over delay in taking a decision on government formation.

The case will come up for hearing tomorrow again. The BJP appeared undecided on taking a shot at power even as a number of its senior leaders including party President Amit Shah and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh were learnt to be in favour of the party forming a government.

Though Delhi BJP leaders maintained that a "final decision" on whether to go for polls or form a government was yet to be taken, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu yesterday said the party was ready for elections.

PTI