india

Updated: Dec 20, 2013 01:24 IST

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) prepares a plan in case it finds itself running the government in Delhi, the Congress, which has offered it outside support, may change its mind. The Congress leadership was apparently unhappy with the “tone and tenor” of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, senior party sources told HT on Thursday.

“It seems they have taken our offer very lightly. It reflects in the kind of language the AAP leaders have been using about our party. This is really unfortunate,” a senior party leader said, requesting anonymity.

In his interviews to television channels on Wednesday, Kejriwal had accused political parties of spending crores of rupees on driving a wedge between him and activist Anna Hazare.

Read: AAP gets 5 lakh views on government formation

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Congress sources said the party leadership may reply to Kejriwal’s allegations on Friday.

Newly appointed Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arvinder Singh also said that Kejriwal should think before making any statement. “It is really disappointing the kind of language that Kejriwal is using. We decided to give them outside support so that they can deliver on the promises they made in their manifesto,” Singh said.

“The AAP, meanwhile, is preparing ground for the weekend Jan Sabhas at each of the 272 wards for a referendum from Delhiites on government formation. It is taking steps for the post-result scenario, irrespective of the outcome of referendum.

Candidates from 70 constituencies are working overtime, asking people to attend Jan Sabhas – about four in each assembly constituency – and/or convey their opinion online while the leadership brainstorms about the options.

Read: Delhi polls: Is this the script voters wanted?

Read: AAP should form govt, not back off at this juncture



The uncertainty about government formation in the national capital continued almost 10 days after the December 8 result yielded a hung house with the BJP-Akali Dal combine winning 32 seats, the AAP 28 and the three-term incumbent Congress just eight.

The AAP is now gearing up for the possibility of running a government. Party spokesperson Manish Sisodia has already said in that scenario, “AAP will take the risk and form a government keeping in mind that there can be re-election any time.” Said a party source, “We are working on two things in case we form the government. One is dealing with the formalities of government formation. Second is prioritising work to be taken up to fulfill our promises in the manifesto.”

AAP has already asked its teams to thrash out details of what needs to be done – and can be done – in the first week, in the first fortnight and in the first month of government formation.