Arvind Kejriwal meets Lt Governor, requests him to conduct elections in Delhi

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Monday met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, asking him to dissolve the Delhi Assembly and hold fresh elections.
“I met the Lt Governor and requested him to conduct elections immediately. He said he would think about it,” Mr Kejriwal said.

The Supreme Court today asked arch political rivals the BJP and the Congress to explain within two weeks whether they can form a government in Delhi together.

Noting that the matter “cannot be in limbo”, the top court has listed further hearing on a petition by the Aam Aadmi Party on April 17; the petition challenges the President’s Rule imposed in Delhi in February this year after its chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister.

In the Delhi elections held in December last year, the BJP and an ally had won 33 seats of the 70 seats, the AAP 28 and the Congress had won eight. After the BJP said that it did not have the support of the 36 members needed for a majority, the Congress had offered external support to prop up Mr Kejriwal at the head of an AAP-led government.

The uncomfortable association lasted 49 days. Mr Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister on February 14 over his pet anti-graft Jan Lokpal Bill. He accused the BJP and the Congress of ganging up in the Delhi assembly to block his bill.

AAP wanted fresh elections be held along with the general elections, but the Centre chose to impose President’s Rule.

At its last hearing the Supreme Court had said, “For the Jan Lokpal Bill, both the BJP and Congress came together. It indicates that Congress and BJP can join hands and form a government…There are no permanent enemies in politics. Today’s enemy can be tomorrow’s friend and best friend.”