Delhi government formation: Sheila Dikshit clarifies on her controversial comment

The Delhi Assembly elections took place in December 2013. But nine months and a 49-day government later, there is still no clarity on the government formation or if a fresh poll will be called by the Lieutenant Governor so that political parties can seek a fresh mandate. 

Background: 

Delhi threw up a hung assembly during the last assembly elections. BJP was the singe largest party but the story of the election was the Aam Aadmi Party's sensational  debut under Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal became the chief minister after taking outside support from the Congress which was relegated to third spot. But just 49 days later, Kejriwal  resigned from the chief minister's position as Congress refused to support the Janlokpal bill tabled in the assembly by the government. 

From then, there has been political instability in the state. There have been systemic charges by AAP, accusing the BJP of horse-trading. While AAP wants Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to order fresh elections, so far the LG has steadfastly refused  to do so. AAP even went to court with this issue and the matter is currently being heard by the apex court. 

Read: Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on government formation in Delhi on October 10

Current development: 

The Aam Aadmi Party, after performing poorly in the Lok Sabha election - both in Delhi and overall across the country, has decided to concentrate on the state. It even decided not to contest polls in states like Maharashtra and Haryana. It has also alleged that the BJP is trying to resort to horse trading to win over its MLAs to form a government in Delhi. On Monday, September 8, party chief Arvind Kejriwal released a video alleging that a BJP MLA tried to bribe MLAs from his party. Addressing a press conference, Arvind Kejriwal said, “BJP's dirty game has been exposed. BJP MP Sher Singh Dagar tried to bribe our MLAs.” The party further said that Dagar had offered around Rs 4 crore to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania. Kejriwal made this claim a day after BJP President Amit Shah made a statement that the BJP should form the government in Delhi. Read More 

However, BJP strongly refuted the charge, saying the authenticity of the video needs to be verified. The Central government has tried to wash its hand away from the entire controversy. According to Rajnath Singh only the LG can take a decision in this matter. Read More  

There have been reports that Najeeb Jung is looking to use secret ballots under the NCT act to break the Delhi deadlock. Both AAP and Congress have steadfastly opposed any such possible move.  LG Najeeb Jung has been systematically targeted by Arvind Kejriwal throughout the entire period. According to the AAP chief, the LG is batting for BJP. Read more 

However this has not stopped Kejriwal from meeting the Delhi LG to submit a CD of the sting operation. At the meeting, AAP asked the Lt Governor to dissolve the Delhi Assembly. AAP leader Manish Sisodia said that if required they will submit the CD to the President. AAP's meeting with Jung comes a day after the Supreme Court gave the Central government a month to end the deadlock over government formation in Delhi. Read More 

BJP, AAP both confident  

Both BJP and AAP are extremely confident that they will form the government if elections are held. Arvind Kejriwal claimed that all the surveys indicate overwhelming majority for AAP. "They are afraid they will lose. All the surveys coming now are showing that AAP will get an overwhelming majority if the elections are held today. It is their government at the Centre, it is their government in MCD. They have seven MPs and they claim it is a wave sweeping across the nation in  their favour. Then go for an election. Why are they resorting to these kind of horse trading, buying of MLAs, offering four crore rupees?" Kejriwal asked.  Read More 

But the BJP too believes it will form the government easily. According to the BJP Delhi head Satish Upadyay, their party is ready for the polls. Read More 

However the party hasn't discarded the possibility of forming the government in Delhi yet. 

Meanwhile, AAP wants the President to intervene to end the political impasse in Delhi. AAP leader Somnath Bharati has ramped up the rhetoric by saying that he will tonsure his head if BJP  forms the government in Delhi. Currently, all eyes are on the Supreme Court, to intervene in this matter. It has said, "On the last date of hearing, it was made clear to you (Centre) that either the election be held or a government is formed. The Centre should take a decision, otherwise the alleged horse-trading will continue." The Centre needs to give its reply on October 10. This gives BJP a good window of one month of trying to form the government if it wishes to do so. AAP wants to prevent this by keeping up systematic pressure on them. Read More 

Sheila Dikshit's volte face 

On Thursday, 11th September, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit said that BJP should be given a chance to form government in Delhi. Veteran leader said that if Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay is making such claims, then he must be saying it with a sense of responsibility. "I am glad for the people of Delhi that an elected government will be formed if it is possible. And if the BJP is claiming that they will be able to form a government, I think it should be given a trial and especially since the president of their party is saying so. I suppose he must be saying it with a sense of responsibility," said Dikshit.

"I speak on behalf of Delhi or any other state, that if you do not have an elected government, then in democracy, it's not a very suitable situation because, the people do not know where to go, what to do, they have problems, there can be many problems that they face collectively and individually, where do they go?" she added. Read More 

This was expectedly welcomed by BJP. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said that as a political leader, her comment is mature. It is not a question about the BJP or the Congress. The political process must be equally applicable. When the Aam Aadmi Party did not have a full mandate, they also made a government according to the constitutional process, but then they left it," Upadhyay told ANI here. Congress Party leaders, however, were quick to label Dikshit's comments as her personal views, while making it clear that the Congress was opposed to the "unethical efforts by the BJP to form the government in Delhi". They expressed 'shock' at Sheila Dikshits comments. Read More 

But now Sheila Dikshit has denied saying anything of that nature. She has clarified to a TV channel that she never said BJP should form the government. According to the veteran politician, she said that if BJP has the numbers, they should form the government. This is a considerable climdown from Sheila Dikshit's comments which was originally reported by media outlets. 

Read: Why is BJP in a hurry to form a government in Delhi?