Zee Media Bureau/Ajith Vijay Kumar
New Delhi: The fractured mandate in Delhi has heralded a new era in Indian electoral politics where two political parties that are at sniffing distance from power are reluctant to stake claim to the throne.
While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stood by its pre-poll stand that it will neither take or give support to neither the Congress nor the BJP in the event of a hung house.
Arvind Kejriwal was quick to term as "personal opinion" the remarks of party leader Prashant Bhushan that AAP may consider supporting BJP if the party gives AAP in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Bhushan also retracted his statement later. He said, "We cannot support BJP or Congress as AAP was formed as an alternative to them. People have supported us so that we can establish an alternative politics in the country."
On the other hand, the BJP, given the undercurrent of popular support for clean politics, has also declared that it will seek a fresh mandate in its favour.
"Considering the present situation, we are not in a position to form the government. We are ready for re-poll," the party`s chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan said.
The BJP appears to have calibrated its move to not look for ‘numbers’ to form the government under Dr Harsh Vardhan in anticipation to benefit from the supposed wave in favour of Narendra Modi in the country.
Notwithstanding its limited stake after it was reduced to single digits has also jumped in with party leaders indicating a willingness to back the Aam Aadmi Party. However, later the party did a u-turn on the issue and taunted Arvind Kejriwal, saying that he should join hands with BJP to fulfil his promises to the people.
"BJP and BSP have also formed government in past. They (BJP and AAP) should form a government and fulfil the promises they had made. What is better for people if they are provided power at a tarrif less than 30 to 50 percent from the existing, if they get 750 litres of water free. The priority now should be there to fulfil the promises that were made," party leader Raj Babbar said.
Clearly, the capital appears heading for President’s rule with elections likely to be held again along with the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 – most likely in the month of April.
