FILE photo: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung
A day after
Arvind Kejriwal quit as chief minister, plunging Delhi into the throes of political uncertainty, all eyes are now on Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung who has sent his report to President Pranab Mukherjee on the present political situation.
Mr Kejriwal handed over his resignation to Mr Jung yesterday along with the recommendation for dissolution of the assembly and holding of fresh elections after his pet anti-graft Jan Lokpal Bill was blocked by the Congress and the BJP in the state legislature.
(Read)As Delhi enjoys a special status of being a Union Territory, the Lieutenant Governor, who is Delhi's constitutional head, is not bound to act as per the outgoing chief minister's advice.
Mr Kejriwal's AAP government has already been asked to run a caretaker government for the next few days as an interim arrangement.
(Read)With Mr Kejriwal on his way out, the Lieutenant Governor's two-page report to the President could contain three probable scenarios.
First, Mr Jung could recommend keeping the assembly under suspended animation wherein the Lieutenant Governor steps in to take charge of Delhi's administration in consultation with his senior advisors. The Union Cabinet will have to take the final call in this regard and recommend it to the President for his approval.
The Lieutenant Governor could also invite the BJP to stake claim to form government. If the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the Delhi elections, declines, Mr Jung will write to the Home ministry, stating the factual position.
In that event, the Lieutenant Governor could then recommend the dissolution of the assembly. This will need the nod of the Home Ministry, which in consultation with the Prime Minister and the President, recommend imposition of President's Rule and paving the way for fresh polls.
Sources in the Election Commission have already told NDTV that the panel is ready to conduct fresh polls in Delhi alongside the Lok Sabha elections, due by May.