NEW DELHI, May 21: AAP today gave up efforts to form a Government in the city with its chief Arvind Kejriwal admitting that chances of returning to power were “negligible” in the current situation and apologised for quitting as Delhi Chief Minister within 49 days.
The comments came on a day which also saw the AAP leader being arrested and sent to Tihar jail by a court for refusal to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000 in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
Kejriwal, whose party received a severe jolt in the parliamentary elections, particularly in Delhi where six months back AAP had a dream debut in the assembly polls, termed as a “biggest mistake” the decision to resign without consulting the public. He said AAP was preparing for fresh polls.
“Today I would like to apologise to the people of Delhi and the country for resigning mid-way. We made a mistake and we apologise for that.
“When we quit the Government, we quit on the basis of morality. We didn’t want to compromise on our principles. But we didn’t know it will be misrepresented. I apologise for that,” Kejriwal said addressing a press conference.
The AAP leader said though the party was contemplating a “referendum” in the city to know people’s views on whether the party should form Government again, it has dropped the idea as chances of coming to power are “negligible” in the current situation.
“We have found that the chances of forming the Government in Delhi in the current scenario are negligible. So in such a condition there is no point having a referendum,” he said.
Delhi Congress Chief Spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said Congress will not support AAP at “any cost” to form the government again.
In sort of an U-turn, Kejriwal had yesterday asked Lt Governor Najeeb not to dissolve the assembly anytime soon, saying it will hold public meetings across the city to know whether the party should form the Government again.
While quitting, the AAP Government on February 14 had recommended immediate dissolution of the assembly to pave way for fresh elections. However, the Lt Governor did not dissolve the assembly and kept in under suspended animation following which AAP had even filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Jung’s decision.
Senior BJP leader Harsh Vardhan, who was party’s Chief Ministerial candidate, called AAP’s move to form Government again in Delhi with Congress support as totally “unethical and unacceptable”.
“If Kejriwal tries to form a Government with Congress, it’s a grave sin. They drew total blank in Lok Sabha polls. I think this was a referendum but they think their referendum is talking to their own people,” he said.
Both BJP and Congress have already said they were ready for fresh election in Delhi.
After the arrest of Kejriwal, AAP supporters held a protest outside Tihar jail and were later removed by the Delhi Police. (PTI)
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