New Delhi, Dec 10 (Agencies) : With the deadlock continuing in Delhi after a hung verdict in the recently concluded assembly elections, Congress on Tuesday indicated that it was mulling giving outside support to Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party (AAP).
"A number of senior leaders of Delhi are of the opinion that we should give unconditional support to AAP to form a government. They believe that we should extend outside support to it. But, we are talking to MLAs from the state. Their opinion is very important. Once we take their opinion, we will inform the party high command about it," AICC general secretary in-charge for Delhi, Shakeel Ahmed was quoted as saying.
Ahmed's remarks came hours after Kejriwal ruled out support to BJP and termed as "personal opinion" the remarks of party leader Prashant Bhushan, who told a TV channel last night that AAP may consider supporting BJP if the party gives AAP in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
As the developments unfolded in the day, BJP's CM candidate Harsh Vardhan and senior party leaders told the newly-elected party MLAs to get ready for fresh elections.
“Don't consider yourself as MLAs but as candidates,” former party president Nitin Gadkari was quoted as telling the legislators after the party finished with 31 seats in the 70-member assembly.
Gadkari reportedly said the party was not keen to win over legislators from other parties to cobble a majority in the house.
Endorsing Gadkari's view, Harsh Vardhan also said that his party is not power-hungry, so it would be content sitting in the Opposition.
Earlier this morning, Kejriwal said that Aam Aadmi Party won't prop up the BJP in Delhi's hung assembly.
Speaking a day after senior colleague Prashant Bhushan suggested giving issue-based support to the BJP, Kejriwal said: "Neither we will take support nor give support (to form a government). There is no question."
Kejriwal instead advised the Bharatiya Janata Party, which with 31 seats is the single largest group in the 70-member house, to take power with the help of the Congress, which has eight legislators.
"Let the BJP and Congress join hands... Both indulge in corruption. The BJP is the single largest party. Let them join hands with the Congress and form a government,"
Kejriwal said AAP leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan's suggestion that AAP could give selective support for a BJP government was his personal view.
"It (was) his personal opinion," he said. "(What I am saying) is the party's opinion."
The AAP finished with 28 seats in its maiden electoral debut. A party must have at least 36 legislators on its side to enjoy a bare majority.