TNN, New Delhi :
Prospects of government formation in Delhi could hinge on a group of Congress MLAs breaking away to support a BJP government to avoid fresh assembly polls.
The possibility of a split in the eight-member Congress unit in the Assembly has been doing the rounds for some time now. The moves for government formation have gathered momentum after the appointment of Satish Upadhyay as Delhi BJP chief and Amit Shah as national president.
Shah is expected to consult BJP leaders soon as the party is inching towards taking a call on whether to attempt government formation or settle for extension of the central rule beyond August 2014.
Party sources said six Congress MLAs might consider supporting a BJP government in Delhi as BJP’s prospects seem most attractive in the assembly polls following its massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections.
While Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh tried hard to quell the rumours by saying that there was no move by the party MLAs to make a breakaway faction, the political circuit is abuzz with the news of informal meetings between BJP leaders and Congress MLAs. Shoaib Iqbal, LJP MLA from Matia Mahal, also said to have met Congress’s Okhla MLA Asif Mohd, its Mustafabad MLA Hasan Ahmad and Seelampur MLA Mateen Ahmad to discuss possibilities of forming a breakaway group to give outside support to BJP.
Satish Upadhyay’s appointment as Delhi unit president has prompted hectic activity in the party circle.
Aam Aadmi Party could also get another chance if a Congress breakaway group decides to back Arvind Kejriwal’s party. AAP has already accused BJP of horse trading.
The political move has received a fillip with Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung indicating that he would weigh the claims of any group making a bid to form a government.
Upadhyay’s appointment as Delhi unit president has prompted hectic activity in the party circle. On Tuesday, he met all key members of Delhi BJP and the seven MPs from the city, and will meet all MLAs on Wednesday. There is consensus within the Delhi unit against an early election, said sources. “We are exploring all options. In case, BJP can’t form a government, Delhi can be under President’s rule till next January,” said a senior leader.
Not all Congress MLAs are also enthusiastic about a repoll, though AICC, its apex decision-making body, on Saturday had set in motion preparations to give BJP and AAP a tough fight in the assembly polls.
