Thursday, 19 December 2013

Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) & Government in Delhi


Recent Assembly elections in Delhi have thrown hung assembly with BJP as the largest single party with 32 MLAs-4 short of absolute majority. BJP has declined to form the government as it could not get the support of 4 additional MLAs required for the majority.AAP has always been maintaining a stand that it will neither take nor give support of Congress or BJP.
Interestingly, Congress on its own sent a letter to Lt. Governor of Delhi, offering unconditional support to AAP though in the media congress leaders have clarified that it is not unconditional but outside. AAP sent a letter to congress, seeking their position on 18 issues---Lokpal Bill, full statehood to Delhi,700 free water per household,50% reduction in electricity rates,500 new government schools ,new government hospitals etc.etc….
In response,  Delhi Congress has stated in a public statement that 16 issues are administrative, will support full statehood for Delhi and Lokpal Bill for Delhi will be supported if its provisions are in line with the central Lokpal Bill. In nutshell, the response is only for Support for Statehood of Delhi.  Incidentally, this decision is in the hands of central Government and nothing to do with congress legislatures of Delhi.
On the basis of this response and earlier stand of AAP of not taking or giving support to Congress or BJP,AAP was expected to inform the Lt.Governor of Delhi about their inability to form the Government. Instead, AAP have sought public opinion, presumably due to eagerness of some of its newly elected leaders to enjoy the fruit of power.
Some important issues are arising:
(1)    What was the objective of writing letter to Congress, when AAP is keen to consider the option of forming the Government even after receiving virtually negative response?
(2)    Why AAP decided to enter into correspondence with other political parties when their stand was “neither to take or give support”? 

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