If hung, Delhi polls to be slotted with LS in April

In case of a hung assembly, Delhi polls will be held in April along with the Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission sources told HT.

In case of a hung assembly, Delhi polls will be held in April along with the Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission sources told HT.

Despite the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) maintaining a smug demeanour by not willing to come forth to form governments due to the fractured mandate, speculations of permutations and combinations has continued in an effort to cobble up a majority in the Delhi legislative assembly, a possibility of a hung assembly looms large.

“With April being the preferred month for the 2014 parliamentary polls, when the weather is pleasant and academic sessions also having ended, the Delhi assembly polls in all probability will be slotted along with the national polls,” the source said.

“March is too soon and the May month sees hot weather in south India as well as floods in many parts of the country. So April is the distinct possibility as of now although no deliberations have taken place on the issue.”

A hung assembly will also bring in President's Rule into play till the elections which have to be held within six months time.

Delhi election results threw up a huge surprise in the form of the one-year-old AAP which bagged 28 seats belying all expectations of a BJP majority which bagged 31 seats, with the Congress suffering a virtual rout with 8 seats.

Certain formalities remain for AAP now which although a registered party is not a recognized one. For the recognized status, either the AAP itself applies for recognition or the EC itself intimates the party that it is a recognized one.

“Also within this period, the AAP can apply for a change of its party symbol—the broom—if it wants to. EC will also freeze the symbol for the party if it wants to retain it,” the source added.