NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court set November 11 as the deadline for exploring the possibility for government formation in Delhi, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday wrote to all the parties saying that he would begin consultations with them in this regard.
Sources in Raj Niwas said that he had written to all the three main parties--the AAP, the BJP and the Congress--stating that he would invite them for talks on the government formation in next few days.
Following the LG’s missive, the parties are hopeful that the deadlock will end soon.
There are three major possibilities which the LG will be exploring in the next few days-- invite any party to stake its claim for government formation; dissolve the Assembly or continue with the President’s rule.
This is for the first time that byelections are being held in three seats while the Delhi Assembly is in suspended animation and a petition seeking the dissolution of the House is pending before the five-Judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.
The candidates can start campaigning for the byelections after November 10, which would be the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
A senior lawyer explained if a candidate spends `14 lakh (the maximum limit set by the EC on campaigning on November 11) and the Assembly is dissolved before November 25 bypolls, there would be no provision to clarify as to who would be responsible for returning the money to such a candidate.
Sources in the BJP said that the party may take a final call on government formation after the announcement of the bypoll results.
There is also a debate in the political circles as to whom the LG should approach in the BJP on the issue of government formation.
The LG can talk about the legislative matters either with the party’s legislative head.
He will not reportedly call the state president Satish Upadhyay for talks.
The BJP is yet to elect its legislative head. But sources said that the party could nominate Janakpuri MLA Jagdish Mukhi, a front-runner for the Chief Minister’s post, for talks on the government formation with the LG.
SC Lauds LG move to end deadlock
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed satisfaction over Lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s move to explore the possibility of government formation in Delhi and said that he should be given more time to take decision. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI H L Dattu said, “Whatever I have read in newspapers, it appears that the LG has made positive moves in this direction.”