AAP open to forming government, asks L-G not to dissolve Delhi Assembly

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called on Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung amid demand by a section of AAP MLAs to explore the possibility of formation of the government again by the party with the support of Congress.

Hours after Kejriwal's meeting with Jung, Congress, however, ruled out extending support to AAP again if it tries to return to power and said it would prefer fresh polls.

Sources said the issue of formation of a government figured in the meeting between Kejriwal and Jung.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who was present in the nearly half-an-hour meeting with Jung, described it as a "courtesy call".

Another party leader Sanjay Singh said, "The meeting was planned sometime back but could not take place earlier."

Following AAP's dismal performance, some of its MLAs last week had mooted a proposal for the party to once again form government in Delhi, with support from either BJP or Congress.

Sources in AAP said majority of sitting MLAs in the party do not want fresh election immediately thinking the "Modi wave" may flatten them if polls are held anytime soon.

AAP had won 28 seats in its debut Assembly elections in December last year and had later formed the government with outside support from Congress's eight MLAs.

BJP along with its ally Akali Dal's one MLA had won 32 seats in the 70-member Assembly. Number of BJP MLAs has come down to 28 as three party legislators Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma have been elected to Parliament.

The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project the Janlokpal Bill could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.

President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had not favoured dissolution of the 70-member Delhi Assembly as recommended by the Council of Ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the Assembly in suspended animation.

The BJP has also said that it would prefer fresh election than forming a government through "manipulation".