The move comes after the BJP not just recorded victory by over one lakh votes on all Lok Sabha seats but also led in 60 out of the 70 assembly segments in the city and aggregating over 46 percent votes. Its main rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) got 32 percent votes with the Congress a measly 15 per cent. Vardhan himself won from prestigious Chandni Chowk seat by a margin of over 1.35 lakh votes.
Favouring early assembly elections, Vardhan said polls will have to be held within the next eight months as President’s Rule cannot continue beyond one year. Vardhan’s announcement came after a meeting with the Rashtriya Swyamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders on Sunday morning at Jhandewalan. Vardhan said his stand of not forming the government due to lack of majority despite being the single largest party has not changed. ‘We will not try to form government through unfair means. Our stand has not changed. We do not have the numbers and will not resort to any manipulation,’ he said.
Taking a cue from Vardhan’s announcement, the AAP on Sunday clarified that it had no intention of forming a government again in Delhi with Congress support. In a house of 70, the AAP has 27 legislators and the Congress eight. The AAP had formed a government with Congress support following poll results in December 2013 but chief minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned in February. Vardhan said any decision on holding the assembly polls in Delhi will have to be taken by the new government at the Centre. ‘We are battle ready. We are prepared for election even after one week. This time BJP will gain a decisive mandate,’ he said while attacking the AAP for running away from the government.