BJP shying away from polls in city: Cong, AAP

Aam Aadmi Party and Congress on Saturday accused BJP of running away from assembly elections in Delhi, soon after Election Commission announced by-polls for three assembly constituencies in the city.

BJP, however, rejected the criticism.

AAP and Congress said announcement of by-polls in Delhi clearly indicated that BJP was ‘scared’ to dissolve the assembly and hold fresh elections.

‘BJP is running away from elections in Delhi. AAP is fully ready for the by-elections.

‘I am really really amazed that despite tall claims of ‘Modi wave’, why is BJP so scared of calling elections in Delhi?,’ AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said in his tweet. 

AAP and Congress have been demanding dissolution of Delhi assembly to pave the way for holding of fresh polls.

‘My sources - BJP’s internal survey shows that if Delhi elections were held today, AAP would get overwhelming majority,’ Kejriwal said.

Delhi Congress chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said announcement of by-elections ‘reflected’ BJP’s reluctance to hold fresh polls.

BJP, however, welcomed the announcement of by-elections.

‘The announcement of by-elections to three Assembly seats has proved BJP is ready to go to the people at appropriate time. The results of by-elections will decide which party is more popular in Delhi,’ Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said.

Earlier, the Election Commission announced by-polls to three assembly constituencies in Delhi which fell vacant after BJP MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had last month sent a report to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking permission to invite BJP to form a government in Delhi. In the report, 

Jung gave a detailed analysis of the political situation and underlined the need to have an elected government in the city. The Centre is yet to respond to the L-G’s letter.