Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit

Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit on Thursday backed the BJP's efforts to form a government in Delhi, saying if the party is in a position to form a government, then it is a good thing.

"In democracy, an elected government is always better because it is the representative of people. If BJP is in a situation to form the government, then it's good," the veteran Congress leader, who recently resigned as Kerala Governor, told reporters.

"If Delhi BJP president has given an statement (over exploring options for the formation of government), then he must have done it with responsibility," she said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had reasons to be pleased and hailed the veteran Congress leader for her support. "As a political leader, her statement is mature and serious," Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said.

"Sheila ji is a senior leader and knows constitutional process. I want to praise her for her statement," he said.

Backing Dikshit, Congress MLA Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed said, "If they have the numbers they shd form govt...the process or way can be questioned".



Sheila's party, the Congress, however, was not amused.

"We are shocked with Sheila ji's statement and we think it is her personal opinion. Congress has a different stand and we are of the opinion that there should an election and we'll not allow a BJP government in Delhi. We'll issue whip to our MLAs in the Assembly in case there is voting," Delhi Congress leader Mukesh Sharma said.

Terming the BJP's attempts at forming its government in Delhi as "unethical and unconstitutional", Congress said the saffron outfit did not have the numbers to do so and vowed to launch a "fight to the finish" against it.

"If BJP has the numbers, it should be certainly invited, but if not, then the party should tell who is extending support to it," Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely had said in a rally few days ago.

BJP had won 31 seats in the 70-member Assembly, but the number of BJP MLAs came down to 28 after three party MLAs - Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pervesh Verma - resigned from the Assembly after they were elected to the Lok Sabha. Its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, had one seat.

The Congress has eight while the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has 27 MLAs in the 70-member Assembly.