NIRMALA GEORGE
Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — India on Tuesday ordered that Delhi’s legislative assembly be dissolved for a new election after the three main political parties failed to form a government this year for a city of nearly 25 million people.
Delhi has been run by the federal government since the city’s top elected official resigned in February.
The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided Tuesday to dissolve the city assembly. Officials said the decision will allow elections to be held early next year.
In elections a year ago, none of the political parties won enough seats to form a government.
The national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won 32 seats, four short of a majority, but no political group was willing to form a coalition government with it. The BJP’s strength further dwindled when three of its assembly members resigned after being elected to the national Parliament in May.
Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi, or Common Man’s, Party formed a government, but it was short-lived.
Aam Aadmi won 28 seats in the elections, but was able to form a government with support from the Congress party from the outside. Congress won eight seats in the polls, held last December.
Kejriwal resigned after 49 days in office when opposition parties voted against his proposal to appoint an independent anti-corruption panel.
India’s Supreme Court said recently that Delhi’s government should make efforts to end the impasse, and that a new election should be held if no party is able to form a government.
Delhi’s federally appointed administrator, Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, said leaders of the three main parties had conveyed their inability to form a government.
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