Govt formation a major challenge as BJP falls short of required numbers
9 Dec 2013 5:53 AM IST
As the single largest party in Delhi assembly elections, BJP, and second placed Aam Admi Party (AAP), have refused to enter into alliance, the national capital city seems to be heading towards president’s rule.
‘We will not form the government if adequate numbers of seats are not achieved,’ said Harsh Vardhan, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate. Vardhan clearly denied any possibility of entering into any post-poll alliance. The senior leaders of BJP also distanced themselves from the issue by saying that they are focusing on formation of governments in other three states.
BJP has secured 32 seats, which is just four seats short of a majority. However, they can increase their tally to 33 if its rebel candidate Rambir Shokeen, who won as independent from Mundka, comes back to the party. Even then BJP will need three seats for a majority.
According to highly placed sources in the BJP, they are in talks with the only JD (U) MLA, from Matia Mahal, Shoaib Iqbal, and may offer him the coveted seat of speaker in the assembly. Iqbal, who was earlier deputy speaker in Delhi, is known as a party hopper. He had joined JD (U) weeks before polling in Delhi. If Iqbal supports BJP, the party will reach 34, still two seats shy from the magic number.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has also rejected the support of Congress or any other party.
In these circumstances, government can be formed only if AAP or Congress splits. The minimum number of MLA required to split BJP are 11, AAP 10, while only three MLA can split Congress. But in any such cases running the government will not be easy for the new chief minister of Delhi.
‘We will not form the government if adequate numbers of seats are not achieved,’ said Harsh Vardhan, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate. Vardhan clearly denied any possibility of entering into any post-poll alliance. The senior leaders of BJP also distanced themselves from the issue by saying that they are focusing on formation of governments in other three states.
BJP has secured 32 seats, which is just four seats short of a majority. However, they can increase their tally to 33 if its rebel candidate Rambir Shokeen, who won as independent from Mundka, comes back to the party. Even then BJP will need three seats for a majority.
According to highly placed sources in the BJP, they are in talks with the only JD (U) MLA, from Matia Mahal, Shoaib Iqbal, and may offer him the coveted seat of speaker in the assembly. Iqbal, who was earlier deputy speaker in Delhi, is known as a party hopper. He had joined JD (U) weeks before polling in Delhi. If Iqbal supports BJP, the party will reach 34, still two seats shy from the magic number.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has also rejected the support of Congress or any other party.
In these circumstances, government can be formed only if AAP or Congress splits. The minimum number of MLA required to split BJP are 11, AAP 10, while only three MLA can split Congress. But in any such cases running the government will not be easy for the new chief minister of Delhi.
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