After BJP's No, Delhi Lieutenant Governor invites Aam Aadmi Party for discussion on government formation

Arvind Kejriwal, who is the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP, will meet the Lieutenant Governor on Saturday morning at 10:30 am. The AAP won 28 seats in last week's Delhi assembly elections, emerging as the second largest party after the BJP, which has 31 seats.

Mr Kejriwal's party has refused to either give or take support to form a government. It says the onus is on the BJP as the single-largest party. "We are clear on our stand. We would be sticking to our stand that we would neither take support to form the government nor support Congress or BJP," AAP's Manish Sisodia said.

Earlier today, Dr Harsh Vardhan, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, said, "We needed 36 for a majority, we are short by four. Politics has to be done with honesty...it is better for us to sit in the opposition and work for the people."

He said he had handed a letter to Mr Jung informing him of the decision. "Any party that wants to form a government in Delhi and prove its majority is welcome to do so." The east Delhi medical doctor also said, "Circumstances are taking us towards another election. We are not to blame for that."

Last evening, President Pranab Mukherjee called Mr Jung to ask about the Delhi situation amid speculation that President's Rule might have to be imposed with neither the BJP nor the AAP ready to stake claim to form government.

Today, Congress number 2 Rahul Gandhi, when asked whether his party will support an AAP government in Delhi, said "it is under consideration." The Congress has eight seats, which can help AAP to get to 36.

Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders have reportedly ruled out trying to form government by cobbling up a majority. The BJP's reluctance to do so is seen as a fallout of the public mood after Mr Kejriwal's one-year-old party claimed enormous voters' support with the promise of clean politics.

If no party comes forward for government formation the Lieutenant Governor will have to recommend President's Rule. He will then run the government with the help of advisers till fresh elections are held within six months."

Both the BJP and the AAP have told their newly-elected legislators to prepare for fresh elections.

In the 70-seat Delhi Assembly, the BJP has 31 MLAs and its ally the Akali Dal one, a total 32; the Aam Aadmi Party has 28, the Congress has eight, the Akali Dal and Janata Dal United have one each and there is one Independent MLA.