File photo of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal
The Supreme Court has asked arch political rivals the BJP and the Congress to explain within two weeks whether they can form a government in Delhi together.
Noting that the matter "cannot be in limbo", the top court has listed further hearing on a petition by the Aam Aadmi Party on April 17; the petition challenges the President's Rule imposed in Delhi in February this year after its chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister.
Mr Kejriwal has tweeted that he will meet Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung this evening "to request him to recommend elections in Delhi."
He also tweeted, "Why r BJP n Cong running away from assembly elections in Delhi? They refuse to submit replies in SC today....(sic)."
The court had last month asked the two parties to explore the possibility of "joining hands." The parties failed to respond, leading to today's order asking them to file an affidavit by the next hearing.
Both the BJP and the Congress had requested the court to take the matter up after the general elections are over. The elections will be held in nine phases beginning next week and votes will be counted on May 16.
In the Delhi elections held in December last year, the BJP and an ally had won 33 seats of the 70 seats, the AAP 28 and the Congress had won eight. After the BJP said that it did not have the support of the 36 members needed for a majority, the Congress had offered external support to prop up Mr Kejriwal at the head of an AAP-led government.
The uncomfortable association lasted 49 days. Mr Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister on February 14 over his pet anti-graft Jan Lokpal Bill. He accused the BJP and the Congress of ganging up in the Delhi assembly to block his bill.
AAP wanted fresh elections be held along with the general elections, but the Centre chose to impose President's Rule.
At its last hearing the Supreme Court had said, "For the Jan Lokpal Bill, both the BJP and Congress came together. It indicates that Congress and BJP can join hands and form a government...There are no permanent enemies in politics. Today's enemy can be tomorrow's friend and best friend."