Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: With uncertainty prevailing over who will form the next government in Delhi after a hung verdict, the Janata Dal (U) on Monday extended its unconditional support to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said it wants its chief Arvind Kejriwal to be the new Chief Minister.
Reacting to the hung verdict in Delhi, JD (U) leader KC Tyagi said, "We will give unconditional support to Kejriwal as we want him to be the Chief Minister."
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too reacted on the outcome of polls in Delhi by saying, "The results have made it clear that the mandate is against the Congress."
Kumar further said that voters in Delhi have shown that when they have a third option other than Congress or BJP they will vote for it.
Kumar also rejected claims by BJP that there was a Modi wave in the country by saying, "If indeed there was some Modi wave then they should have got 2/3rd majority. They will be wiped out in a re-election."
"Ye sirf blower ki hawa hai, koi leher nahi hai, " added Nitish Kumar.
Also Read: President’s rule likely in Delhi as BJP, AAP fall short of majority
The support from JD (U) came as Kejriwal`s party made it clear that it would sit in opposition and not join hands with either BJP or Congress.
With the BJP falling short of numbers to form government in Delhi, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi today said that both the parties should seek a common ground to govern.
Bedi, a close aide of socialist Anna Hazare, today cautioned BJP and AAP from rushing into re-elections, saying, "At least an effort should be made by BJP & AAP to find common ground."
Bedi maintained that, "The onus is on both parties (BJP & AAP) to find a common ground to govern, if they can’t they can go back to re-election."
The reaction from Bedi came as it became clear that AAP will not stake claim to form government and will play the role of a constructive opposition.
The party also said that it was the responsibility of the BJP, which is the single largest party, to form the government.
After a meeting of top party leaders at party chief Arvind Kejriwal`s residence here, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, even if Lt Governor Najeeb Jung invites the party to form the government it will decline such an offer citing lack of majority.
"We are not going to form the government. We will sit in the opposition and play the role of a constructive opposition. As per the Constitution the largest party has to take the responsibility of forming government," Yadav said.
"We have not got majority so it is very surprising that the number one party (BJP) is not ready to form the government and telling us to do so," he said. Yadav also strongly ruled out taking support of Congress to form government. The BJP has also expressed its reluctance to stake claim, saying it did not have the numbers to provide a stable government.
BJP`s Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan had said last night that he will not stake claim to form a government as his party is short of a clear majority and would prefer to sit in the opposition than indulge in any "horse trading".
"...Since I don`t have number I cannot stake my claim in forming my government in Delhi...Since I don`t have the magic number of 36, I really cannot be a part of the government formation in Delhi," he had said.
Importantly, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today called for an urgent meet with top party leaders to introspect on the party`s stunning defeat in four states results for which were declared yesterday.
During the meeting, the Congress top brass will ponder over the possible factors that led to the party`s humiliation in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.
Sonia Gandhi had on Sunday said that the results of assembly polls were very disappointing and asked her party leaders to study "the many reasons for this defeat".
BJP with 31 seats has emerged as the single largest party in a House of 70, needing six more for the magic number of 36. AAP bagged 28 seats followed by Congress(8). BJP ally Akali Dal got one seat.
Kejriwal emerged the giant killer defeating three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by a huge margin.
With PTI inputs
