BJP MLAs don’t want repoll, AAP raring to go
Thursday, 12/12/2013
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
NEW DELHI: The BJP’s reluctance in staking claim to form the government in Delhi is fast losing popularity with a majority of its MLAs unwilling to face fresh polls.
VIRENDRA SINGH GOSAIN/HT Aam Aadmi Party supporters celebrate the party’s victory at a rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. The party made a stunning debut in the Delhi assembly polls.
While the party’s central leadership is driven by national calculations, some of its MLAs fear they may not win a second time around and are willing to even sit in the opposition to retain their seats.
In contrast, almost all MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that HT spoke with were ready for a re-election, saying they will return with thumping majority a second time around.
The BJP-Akali Dal combine won 32 seats while AAP surprised political pundits with 28 seats in the 70 seats Delhi assembly. Neither party, however, has staked claim to form the government since neither has a simple majority of 36 seats.
HT spoke to 26 of the 32 MLAs, a majority of whom weren’t confident in retaining their seats in the face of an AAP wave and cited additional burden to the citizen and the exchequer and logistical problems as hurdles for fresh polls.
“We can’t predict people’s mood and things can change for good or bad. What if there is a fractured mandate again?” said a BJP MLA on condition of anonymity.
