NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has recommended that Delhi be put under President’s rule with the new Assembly in suspended animation among other options amid the continuing political deadlock over formation of the next Government.
Imposition of Central rule was was one of the options listed by Jang in his report submitted to the President after his wideranging consultations with BJP, the single largest party, followed by the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), official sources said today.
The recommendation by the Lt Governor with no party ready to assume power after Delhi returned a hung verdict came even as Congress put the ball back in AAP’s court over Government formation, saying 16 of its 18 demands needed just administrative decisions and have nothing to do with Parliament or Assembly.
In a reply to AAP, AICC General Secretary in-charge for Delhi Shakeel Ahmed said the party is ready to give its support on full statehood for Delhi and a stronger Lokayukta.
AAP had on Saturday put the onus on Congress and BJP for taking their support to form a Government by putting forth 18 conditions and wanting to know their views on them, a move seen as an attempt to rebut criticism that it was shying away from taking responsibility.
In the letter addressed to Kejriwal, Ahmed has also clarified that Congress “never mentioned about unconditional support” to AAP to form a Government.
“In your letter, you have repeatedly talked about unconditional support but our letter did not mention about unconditional support even once. We have talked about giving outside support, which means we will not participate in the Government or in the Cabinet,” Ahmed said.
Explaining the rationale for extending support to AAP, Ahmed said in the letter, “this is true that we offered support to you without your seeking it. The reason for it is that we want that the people of Delhi get an elected Government and they do not have to carry additioinal burden.”
With Congress making its sand clear, top AAP leaders will meet tomorrow to decide the next course of action.
“We have received the reply from Congress on the 18 issues raised by AAP on Saturday. The party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) will meet tomorrow and decide the next course of action,” AAP spokesperson and MLA from Patparganj Manish Sisodia told.
In a House of 70, BJP(31) and its ally Akali Dal(1) together have 32 seats, four short of majority while AAP has 28 seats. Congres won eight seats. (PTI)
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