The capital needs a stable Government. The only danger is that the people should not elect a hung Assembly again if election is held

Will Delhi go for fresh polls or is the Bharatiya Janata Party in a position to give a stable GovernmentIJ After the people of Delhi chose a hung Assembly, the capital does not have a popular Government since February 17, when Aam Aadmi party chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned as the Chief Minister claiming that he was not allowed to get the Jan lokpal Bill passed. Now, grapevine has it that there is a divided opinion in the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, whether to go for fresh polls or to form a Government if lt Governor invites. The lt Governor is in the process of inviting political parties to explore possibilities.

Ironically, the person who is protesting the most is the Mr Kejriwal, who has gone to the court seeking A fresh election. He was also crying wolf that the BJP was poaching on his legislators and trying to buy them. Had he remained the Chief Minister, this would not have happened. He knew that he could not fulfil rash promises like reducing the priceS of electricity and free water, and hence he ran away from the scene. The AAP party is slowly losing its sheen and people are now realising their mistake. If Mr Kejriwal hopes that his last-time performance will be repeated, he is in for a shock and deep disappointment.

The number game in the present Delhi Assembly, which is under suspended animation, shows that it will be difficult for any party to give a stable Government unless it indulges in some horse-trading. BJP leaders who are in favour of forming the Government, do not have an answer as to how they will get the magic number without poaching on other parties. They think that after the by-election, they will get three more seats and just before or after the polls, they can form the Government.

The party at present is well short of the half-way mark in the Assembly (current strength is 67) with 28 of its own and one from its ally, the Akali Dal. Even if the two independents and a Janata Dal (United) MlA were to support the BJP, it still needs two more MlAs. BJP leaders who think rationally want a fresh election, but demand that it should be in February. This section is also enthused after the recent spectacular victory in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls. The RSS, which had earlier expressed fears that a fresh poll may not favour the party, has now advised the BJP to go in for fresh elections.

The lt Governor is going by the rulebook by seeking the President’s nod to invite the single largest party (the BJP) to form the Government. Some naysayers look at this as a delaying tactic rather than a definite plan to end the current impasse. The lt Governor would not have sought the President’s permission without a nod from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister. Since the Supreme Court is breathing down the Centre’s neck, this could  be to assure that efforts are indeed being made to form a popular Government.

Perhaps seeing through the game, the Supreme court pulled up the Centre, pointing out that the people of Delhi have a right to an elected Government and that the Centre cannot go on delaying the exercise for ever. Meanwhile three Assembly seats — Krishna Nagar, Mehrauli and Tughlaqabad will go for by-elections next month after three BJP MlAs became MPs. The BJP may win all the three in view of the present favourable atmosphere.

The problem has arisen because the Centre is not able to make up its mind whether to allow the formation of the BJP Government or opt for fresh polls. Many BJP leaders feel that, had there been a fresh election soon after the fall of the Kejriwal’s 49-day Government, the BJP would have come back successfully riding on the Modi wave. Now some think that the party needs time to prepare, as prices and inflation rates have not come down.

The AAP chief had gone to the court seeking fresh polls after which the Supreme Court on August 5 gave the Centre five weeks to come up with a decision on Delhi polls. But the Centre has been seeking extension after extension, which has exasperated the Supreme Court to make harsh comments.The Centre feels that the court should not interfere when  Parliament has ratified President’s Rule until February. There could be a constitutional crisis if the court orders fresh polls on the petition of Mr Kejriwal.

To avoid all these complexities, the BJP should opt for a fresh poll.