Impasse over govt formation continues, networking sites want Mukhi as Delhi CM

Senior BJP MLA and former Delhi finance minister and Jagdish Mukhi, who has reportedly emerged as a frontrunner for the post of the chief minister, got a huge support on Monday over social networking sites, saying he was the most experienced leader in the saffron party to lead the new government.

As a majority of the legislators are said to have expressed their unwillingness to go for fresh elections, sources said some Congress MLAs were reportedly planning to form a new front to extend outside support to the BJP in government formation. There are indications that some AAP MLAs, including its two former ministers, have also expressed their willingness to support the BJP government.

BJP MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has managed to rope in six Congress MLAs in support of BJP for formation of government in Delhi. Bidhuri has changed several parties like the Congress, BSP, NCP and BJP. So he does not have credibility among political parties. There are reports that a majority of the Congress MLAs are in favour of BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bhiduri taking charge as the next CM. ‘But the RSS is said to have shot down this proposal. The Sangh has been supporting Mukhi for the CM post,’ a source close to the RSS said.  ‘In such a scenario, Bhiduri may be given an important ministerial berth.’

The saffron party is also in the process of announcing its new state unit head. Sources said South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Education Committee head Asish Sood has emerged as a frontrunner for the post. 

‘But former MLA Alok Kumar, who is said to be close to the RSS, and South Delhi MCD Standing Committee chairperson Satish Updhdyay are also lobbying for the post,’ a local BJP leader said. 

‘It seems Asish Sood may have the last laugh.’ What is probably holding back the BJP leadership to take a call on the government formation is the fact that a section of its leaders, including Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, had reportedly been in favour of holding fresh elections in the city. But some senior leaders fear that the fresh elections may not work in favour of the party and that’s precisely why they want the saffron brigade to stake claim in government formation.

After its three MLAs got elected to the Lok Sabha, the saffron party is now left with 29 legislators in the 67-member Assembly, which is under suspended animation. 

Any party which enjoys the support of 34 MLAs can stake claim to form the government in Delhi. Expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny and Independent legislator Rambir Showkeen are likely to vote for the BJP.

Sources said if the AAP MLAs vote against the party whip, their membership can be terminated by the Speaker. ‘In such a situation, there are chances that the BJP may field them on their own tickets in the state elections,’ a saffron leader told this newspaper.