Delhi goes for fresh elections

The over-eight-month-long suspense over the fate of Delhi assembly and government has ended with the capital heading for fresh elections. On Monday November 3, 2014, the three major political parties ”” BJP, AAP and Congress ”” informed lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung that government formation was not possible in the present circumstances and pressed for immediate dissolution of the assembly.

The LG sent a report on the matter to President Pranab Mukherjee. According to a PTI report, the lieutenant governor has recommended the dissolution of Delhi assembly.

This will mark the first time in almost a decade that assembly elections will be held in a state within such a short span. Bihar had gone to the polls in February 2005 and then in October 2005 under a similar set of circumstances.

After a flip-flop over government formation that stretched over months, BJP finally told the LG that it would be unable to form a government. The LG’s invitation came three days after the Supreme Court commended his efforts for resolving the stalemate in the capital. The BJP, which is the single largest party in the assembly with 29 seats, including one ally, said it didn’t have the requisite numbers.
Though fresh polls are now certain, the process of bypolls will continue till Election Commission of India strikes down the notification, which may not happen till next week. This means that political parties will have to declare their candidates for the bypolls before the last date of filing nominations on November 5.
BJP is riding high after the wins in Maharashtra and Haryana with Modi’s appeal a biggest drawcard for the middle class voters. AAP is favourite of the city’s poor as well as its growing influence with Muslim voters. Congress trails with Sheila Dikshit out of politics now.

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