Won’t support BJP, says Kejriwal

New Delhi – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won’t prop up the BJP in power in Delhi’s hung assembly, its founder leader Arvind Kejriwal said Tuesday.

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.

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.

“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 opinion”.

“It (was) his personal opinion,” he said. “(What I am saying) is the party’s opinion.”

On Tuesday, Bhushan backtracked — and fell in line with the party’s view.

Bhushan said there was no question of supporting the BJP as the one-year-old AAP was created as an alternative to national parties such as Congress and the BJP.

“We cannot support or take support from the Congress and BJP. My comment was in a rhetorical context … if in case the two parties also follow the AAP policies and ideologies,” he clarified.

Kejriwal said the AAP’s near victory in Delhi — the result Sunday ended 15 years of Congress rule — had given “a ray of hope” to the nation.

“This is a good opportunity! to bring about a transformation (in India). There are many good people! in all parties. I want to appeal to such people to reform their parties from within or leave them and join us.”