Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: In the latest development, Congress has handed over an unconditional letter of support to the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to form government in the national capital, reports said on Friday.
The letter of support was given to Najeeb Jung after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had said that the party is not averse to supporting AAP for government formation in Delhi, where recent elections have returned a hung Assembly.
According to official sources, all eight legislators of the party were ready to back the AAP, which has been invited by Jung to explore the possibility of forming a government.
The letter to Jung read: "Indian National Congress is willing to offer unconditional outside support to AAP if they are ready to form the government."
"We have come to know through media that after the refusal of BJP to form government in absence of adequate number, you have invited Arvind Kejriwal of AAP to form government," it added.
The letter was signed by party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed and Delhi Congress chief JP Agarwal.
The AAP finished with 28 seats in the 70-member assembly, just behind the Bharatiya Janata Party`s 31, leaving Delhi with a hung house.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday had said that it will not form a government.
The AAP is, however, not likely to accept the offer as AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has categorically said today that they are ready to sit in the opposition and will not lend or accept support from either the BJP or the Congress.
AAP leader Yogendra Yadav had also said that the party will make its stand clear on forming a government in Delhi only after meeting Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung tomorrow.
Meanwhile, BJP also asked Aam Admi Party, the second largest party in Delhi assembly with 28 seats, to form a government while assuring it of constructive cooperation in fulfilling its promises such as slashing tariff by 50 per cent and providing free water upto 700 litres daily.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goels said if AAP was really serious about fulfilling the promises made to people, then it should go ahead and form a government.
"AAP had made many promises including two major promises of reducing power tariff by 50 per cent and providing free water up to 700 litres per day. If AAP is really serious about fulfilling these promises, then it should go ahead and form a government and BJP will provide whatever cooperation is required," Goel said.
Yesterday, BJP, which is the single largest party with 31 seats plus ally Akali Dal`s lone seat, had turned down Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung`s offer of government-formation, citing lack of majority.
A party needs at least 36 seats in the House of 70 members to form a government.
"Even Congress has clearly indicated that it will provide support to the AAP government. Then, if it is really serious about fulfilling its promises, it should go ahead and do it. If they do not form the government, then it will be clear that AAP was never serious about fulfilling these promises which were made with lot of fanfare," Goel added.
The Delhi BJP president said AAP has made several promises in a hurry just to woo the voters.
"BJP believes in providing constructive support to any initiative which serves the interest of Delhi. For us, the interests of Delhi residents are above everything. We have been serving the people of Delhi and we would continue to do so," he said.
With PTI inputs
