With Delhi lieutenant governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung sending a report to president Pranab Mukherjee, reportedly seeking permission to invite the single largest party to take a shot at forming a government in Delhi, speculation is rife that the BJP would be called to attempt it.

Jung’s report gives a detailed analysis of the political situation in the city-state and underlined the need to have an elected government, according to reports. Delhi has been under President’s rule since February 17 this year after Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government resigned.

But critics say the decision to invite BJP would lead to “horse-trading”, with the saffron party, which has fewer MLAs than it had after the election results were declared in December last year when it bypassed the chance to form a government.

In assembly, the BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal alliance now has 29 MLAs (28+1) – down from 31 after former MLAs Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma won the Lok Sabha elections – AAP has 28 MLAs, and the Congress eight.

While AAP is questioning the rationale behind inviting BJP, which did not claim a stake with 32 MLAs (along with SAD) and is now down to 28, there is speculation that the saffron party would try and win over ousted AAP legislators like Vinod Kumar Binny. According to AAP and some Congress leaders, the BJP would also attempt to get – or “buy”, according to many – more members from both parties.

This, critics say, is certainly not the best way to form and run a government only in the name of avoiding elections and stability. But on the other hand, Jung would neither be technically wrong if he indeed invites the BJP to take a shot at government formation nor is it a good scenario for a state to be under President’s rule for too long because it affects day-to-day functioning of the administration.

In this context, if L-G Jung invites the BJP, would it be a correct decision?