Agencies, New Delhi :
Rejecting the outgoing government’s recommendation for dissolution of the Delhi assembly, lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung is on Saturday understood to have suggested imposition of President’s rule by keeping the legislature under suspended animation.
In a report to the Centre, Jung did not favour dissolution of the 70-member Delhi assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Arvind Kejriwal when it met last night and decided to quit.
The LG’s move keeps the option open for any political party or a combination of parties to try and form a government in future.
Sources said Jung has conveyed to the Centre that the national capital be brought under a spell of President’s rule as no party is now in a position to form an alternative government.
The final call on the LG’s recommendation will be taken by the Centre, the sources said.
Home ministry officials said they would take the opinion of the law ministry and place all the facts before the Union Cabinet for the final decision.
The Assembly elections late last year had given a split verdict with no political party getting absolute majority. The Aam Aadmi Party led by Kejriwal formed the government in December with Congress support.
The AAP government resigned on Friday after it suffered a defeat on the Janlokpal Bill in the Delhi assembly and recommended for fresh election by dissolving the House.
The LG has also sent, along with his report, the resignation letter of Arvind Kejriwal. The letter would be forwarded to the President for its acceptance. Officials said home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is away in Maharashtra, has been briefed about the LG’s report.
Meanwhile, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday sought to defend the joint opposition by Congress and BJP to introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi assembly and accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of violating his oath of the chief minister’s office.
“Before assuming the office, an MLA or an MP takes the oath. Similarly, chief minister also takes the oath of (abiding by) the constitution before assuming the office. Kejriwal has however violated that oath,” Shinde told reporters at his hometown Solapur.
Kejriwal stepped down as Delhi chief minister yesterday after he was prevented from tabling his dream Jan Lokpal Bill in the assembly in face of stiff opposition from the Congress and BJP.
“The Jan Lokpal Bill was not tabled as per the rule… Since the method applied was wrong, both Congress and the BJP opposed it,” Shinde said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has resigned after an anti-corruption bill was blocked in the state assembly.
Opposition politicians blocked the bill, which would have created an independent body with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption.
They argued it was unconstitutional to introduce legislation that did not have the approval of the federal government.
His anti-corruption party made a spectacular debut in recent elections.
AAP on Saturday announced a nationwide anti-graft campaign against Congress and BJP from February 23. Arvind Kejriwal will kick-start the campaign from Haryana on Feb 23 and in UP on March 2.
Aam Aadmi Party also made it clear that it would contest the Lok Sabha polls under his leadership.
