AAP reaches out to Cong, others to block BJP from forming govt in Delhi

The AAP on Tuesday intensified efforts, including reaching out to the Congress and other parties, to block the BJP from forming a government in Delhi “by corrupt means”.

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal started the day by marking his attendance in the Supreme Court, which asked the Centre to respond to queries about government formation in Delhi by October 10.

He subsequently claimed he had evidence to prove that the BJP was trying to “buy” at least 15 more of his party MLAs.

“If they (the BJP) try to take power by unscrupulous means, we will expose them at an appropriate time,” Kejriwal said. “We will reveal the names of the AAP legislators approached by the BJP.”

The AAP chief said he would send the sting footage to President Pranab Mukherjee and also the Delhi Police Commissioner.

The AAP has reached out to other parties to prevent the BJP from horse-trading, Kejriwal added.

“I want to make it very clear that AAP is in touch with all the parties — with (Independent MLA from Mundka) Rambeer Shokeen, (JDU MLA) Shoaib Iqbal, (expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar) Binny, the Congress and even some honest MLAs from the BJP.

“By saying this we make it clear that we are not aiming to form the government, but we want to stop the BJP from forming the government through dishonest means. We are in favour of elections,” he said.

AAP has filed a fresh affidavit in Court, highlighting the incidents of horse-trading in Delhi that the party claims to have exposed through a sting operation on Monday.

In the purported sting operation, Delhi BJP vice-president Sher Singh Dagar is shown offering money to an AAP MLA to switch sides.

The BJP has since distanced itself from Dagar, issuing him a show-cause notice. However, the party remains ambiguous about whether it will, in fact, make an effort to form government in the capital state.

It is, however, clear that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is in favour of inviting the BJP to form the government in Delhi.

“In accordance with constitutional conventions and also keeping in mind the law laid down by the Supreme Court that every effort must be made to form a popular government before recommending dissolution, I shall be grateful if the Hon’ble President of India grants approval to invite the BJP that is even today the single largest party in the legislature.

“Should the BJP agree, I would ask them to demonstrate their strength to form a stable government on the floor of the House within a stipulated period, possibly one week,” Jung said in his letter to the President on September 4.

AAP claimed that the LG’s letter and the subsequent sting operation reveal how “desperate efforts are being made to install a BJP government by hook or by crook” in Delhi.