AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal speaking to reporters
Delhi has been without a government for eight months and the Supreme Court today made it clear that it is unacceptable, saying, "In a democracy, President's Rule cannot go on forever."
The court was told by the Centre that President Pranab Mukherjee has sanctioned inviting the BJP, the largest party, to try and form a government in Delhi.
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The court frowned upon what it saw as delaying tactics. "Every time, just before a hearing, the Centre will come out with some statement, but nothing happens. We have given enough time but nothing came out," said a bench headed by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu.
The ruling BJP, which won the most number of seats in Delhi, is "not averse" to taking power in Delhi, say sources, and lawmakers have the approval of their party's top leaders to try and form government. "We will take a decision at an appropriate time once we are invited," said Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.
The BJP, sources say, is preparing for three possibilities - dissolution of the assembly and fresh polls, being invited to form government, and waiting for the outcome of assembly by-polls.
The BJP had won 31 seats in the December Delhi election, which threw up a fractured verdict. Three of its MLAs contested and won the national election in May. The party will strive to retain those seats in by-polls to be held on November 25.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has accused the BJP of playing dirty tricks to raise its numbers in the 70-member assembly and avoiding polls for fear of losing. "They don't have the numbers and they are delaying elections. If they had any confidence at all, they would have formed a government five months ago," he said today.
Mr Kejriwal, 46, was chief minister for 49 days till February when he quit in a huff after failing to push his Jan Lokpal Bill.
Days later, AAP moved the Supreme Court asking for the dissolution of the Delhi Assembly and another election.
The BJP alleged that the AAP chief is prone to "shooting and scooting". Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "To become Prime Minister, Kejriwal left people of Delhi in limbo and left for Varanasi, today he's come back again expecting support... it'll not happen again."
AAP has 27 seats after one of its lawmakers walked out. The Congress, which was reduced to third place, has eight seats. Both parties want polls.
"The single largest party can be invited by the LG but only if they can prove they have the numbers. Except the BJP, everyone wants elections," said former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who led the Congress to a crushing defeat in the polls after 15 years in power.
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