AAP’s Confidence Motion: Is It A Political Gimmick?

In a move that smacks of “political gimmick”, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal will table a motion of confidence in the Delhi Assembly on Monday.

It comes days after the AAP accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to poach their legislators. The AAP has 62 MLAs in the 70-member Assembly. The confidence motion is being brought to prove that no MLA has joined the Opposition ranks.

Interestingly, experts said Monday’s development in the Delhi Assembly is a unique event in India’s history. “It has neither been demanded by the Opposition nor does the ruling party have any threat as they have already proved that no AAP MLA was going to join the BJP,” he added.

A confidence motion is a very essential legislative occurrence that determines whether or not a government enjoys a majority in the Assembly. It is important when there is a threat to political instability.

The Opposition leaders said the only aim of the AAP government was to get media coverage and use this opportunity for political propaganda and mileage.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari tweeted: “AAP has 62 MLAs. The party is going to bring ‘Confidence Motion’ by itself and then pass it in the Assembly. Then they will run it in the media. What do they think of themselves? They are wasting exchequers’ money. If you want to run the Assembly, then debate on the CAG report, corruption in excise policy and schools.”

Kapil Mishra, another BJP leader, said: “The drama of ‘Vishwas Mat’ is being played out to divert people’s attention from the issue of excise scam. They (AAP government) should stop supportingthe  liquor ‘mafia’ and remove corrupt Manish Sisodia (Deputy CM). Now, people have no faith in this government.”

The BJP also said that the AAP has a majority and there was no threat to Kejriwal government. “Kejriwal is misusing legislative privilege to play politics. The time lost in proving a majority undoubtedly could have been utilised on governance and taking key decisions.”

Last week, the AAP claimed that 12 of its legislators were approached by the BJP leaders and offered Rs 20 crore each to break away from the party and join the BJP. The Delhi CM later called an emergency meeting at his house where all the legislators voiced their support for the government.

The AAP legislators, led by Kejriwal, also went to Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Raj Ghat to offer prayers. The CM had told the media then that ‘Operation Lotus’ of the BJP, through which they allegedly tried to poach AAP leaders, had fallen flat in Delhi.