"What I want to say is that if government can be formed then it should be formed. After all, the LG would have to see that every effort has been made to form the government before the final option of fresh polls is explored. If BJP has reached such a situation that it can form a government, it is good for Delhi," she said, in remarks completely at odds with Congress's plan to thwart BJP from taking the levers of power in the city.
READ ALSO: Congress biggies bat for BJP, expose leadership vacuum in party
Dikshit also said MLAs belonging to both Congress and AAP were averse to another election. "As far as I could understand, every MLA, whether he is from Congress or AAP or others, doesn't want elections. People are saying that the MLAs have just been elected and their membership has not crossed even one year. As far as I can understand, and people are telling me, that they (MLAs) want government to be formed," said the former CM who, interestingly, was nudged by the BJP government to step down as Kerala governor.
Her comments contradict the posture of both Congress and AAP — that their MLAs would prefer hitting the hustings than let BJP form the government — and could reinforce the already rife speculation about some of Congress MLAs wanting to be part of experiments which could stave off the prospect of assembly polls.
Embarrassed by the former CM who led the party to its worst debacle in the December 2013 assembly polls, Congress distanced itself from Dikshit and declared these to be her "personal views". "Shielaji's comments on government formation in Delhi may be her personal opinion. Congress MLAs and AICC are totally against extending support to BJP," AICC general secretary in-charge of Delhi, Shakeel Ahmed, tweeted.
Ajay Maken, another Congress general secretary and chairman of the Congress media department too reiterated the party stand against BJP.
The saffron party, however, was pleased and praised the former CM. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said, "I praise her for her straightforward statement. She has given this statement carefully. It is not about whether a government will be formed or not, but how you are behaving in politics."
AAP, which had only on Tuesday reached out to Congress sparking speculation about an effort to revive the arrangement which helped Arvind Kejriwal become CM, was furious and suggested that Dikshit could be worried about the corruption cases involving her.
Sheila refrained from commenting on whether BJP will be able to cobble the necessary numbers in the assembly, but was almost unambiguous that giving the single largest party an opportunity to prove its numbers will serve public interest. "It is yet to be seen how government is formed and what challenges will be there for a minority government. And, can they (BJP) cross this and not... it is up to them (BJP). The real test will be on the floor of the House," Dikshit said.
"In the absence of an elected government, people don't know where they should go. And their voice is heard nowhere. If people's voice is heard and then it is good," she continued.
Dikshit's neutrality over the chances of BJP finding the numbers contrast strongly with Congress's official position that it would not let the saffron party form the government at any cost.
Reacting strongly to Dikshit's comment, Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Ashutosh said, "I am not surprised by Sheila Dikshit's statement because we have been saying for a long time that there is good understanding between the BJP and Congress... and there is hardly any difference between the two."
"There are three FIRs against Sheila Dikshit. And if Aam Aadmi Party forms government, the investigation will be fast-tracked. Then, Sheila Dikshit will have no other option but to go to jail. She is desperate to avoid going to jail," he added.
READ ALSO: Sheila Dikshit favourites bat for her in Delhi
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