NEW DELHI, Sep 6: As charges of horse trading flew thick and fast, a delegation of AAP leaders, led by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, today met President Pranab Mukherjee and sought fresh polls in Delhi.
A day after Delhi LG Najeeb Jung recommended that a single largest party (BJP) be invited to explore the formation of Government in Delhi which is under President’s rule, AAP MLAs met the President and called for fresh polls in Delhi.
During their meeting with the President this evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the MLAs alleged that BJP was indulging in horse trading to form a Government in Delhi.
AAP told Mr Mukherjee that it was not possible for BJP to form a Government in Delhi without indulging in horse trading. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Kejriwal said, “We requested the President to dissolve the Assembly and have elections in Delhi.
“We told him that fresh election is the only option in Delhi. Had a good meeting with President. We talked about how if AAP and Congress won’t support anyone, BJP can’t form a Government in Delhi.
“BJP always said that they can’t form Government in Delhi because they don’t have the numbers,” Mr Kejriwal said.
The party demanded that If BJP is given an invitation to form the Government in Delhi, support letters of MLAs should be asked for.
The AAP’s meeting with the President came even as BJP today dismissed Mr Kejriwal’s allegations and said it would decide after getting an invitation from the Lt Governor.
Talking to reporters, BJP leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Aisi sarkar humein banane ki zaroorat nahi, jisme horse-trading karni pade (We do not need to form such type of Government in which there is a need to do horse trading).”
After Delhi LG sent a report over existing situation on Government formation in Delhi to President Pranab Mukherjee, a war of words started between the AAP and BJP. Mr Kejriwal alleged that BJP was making efforts to form Government through horse trading.
Talking to reporters here earlier in the day, he said, “BJP doesn’t have the numbers to form Government in Delhi. They will bribe AAP and Congress leaders’.
“Delhi LG’s recommendation of inviting BJP to form Government in Delhi is ‘murder of democracy’.
“They want to buy MLAs using money power, at Rs 20 crore each,” he alleged.
Mr Kejriwal also questioned the basis over which the LG will reportedly invite BJP to form a Government in Delhi.
“The LG is saying that BJP will be invited to form Government. On what basis are they going to prove majority. This is a deliberate invitation to form Government dishonestly.
“So, we are meeting the President today and will request him to intervene in the matter. BJP should not get an invitation to form government under any circumstance,” he said.
Mr Kejriwal said AAP MLAs have been told that if BJP leaders try to bribe them, they shouldn’t refuse but record them on camera.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay maintained that the party has not received an official invitation from the LG. The party will decide after it gets invitation in this regard, he added.
The Delhi BJP chief said the party is also prepared to go into fresh polls.
Mr Updahyay said, “If Delhi polls are announced tomorrow, we are prepared for it.”
BJP had won 31 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly but its number was reduced to 28 after three of its MLAs were elected as MPs from Delhi in the Lok Sabha polls.
Delhi is under President’s rule after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 as Chief Minister. (UNI)
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