BJP tried to bribe 22 Gujarat MLAs, says Congress

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Launching a blistering attack on the BJP while parading Gujarat Congress MLAs before the media at a resort in Bengaluru, Gujarat Congress leader and AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil on Sunday said that BJP leaders had offered Rs 15 crore each to 22 MLAs to cross vote in the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for August 8.

“Our legislators have not come here to enjoy. We brought them here to save democracy as they were being poached by BJP, using money and muscle power,” Mr Gohil told reporters at the resort as the MLAs sat behind him.

“Democracy is passing through testing times. I request the media to save democracy. We have all of them here, you can ask them anything you want,” Mr Gohil asserted. 

There have been reports that the Congress MLAs were brought to the resort in Bidadi against their wishes. The parade was a show of strength and an attempt to scotch reports of disunity in their ranks.

The AICC spokesperson, who has been at the resort since Saturday night, said, “We are living like a family. Where are the internal problems and bickering the BJP is talking about? Just see how we respect each other.” 

Mr Gohil said even when the MLAs were threatened by the BJP, they chose to stand by the party. “Had our party MLAs not been threatened, what was the need for us to stay here (in Bengaluru) even for a minute?” he asked.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar rejected the charge of the BJP poaching and bribing Congress MLAs.

“Gujarat Congress leaders are levelling allegations at the BJP in Bengaluru. It is like a thief criticising a cop. If their leaders are leaving them, it has nothing to do with us,” Mr Javadekar told PTI in New Delhi. 

He said those who quit the Congress included leaders like Shankarsinh Vaghela, a former chief minister and the leader of Opposition, its chief whip Balwantsinh Rajput and its spokesperson Tejashreeben Patel.

“They are all strong leaders. Nobody can purchase them. The Congress should look inwards and think why such senior leaders are leaving it. The truth is that its only goal is to save Rahul Gandhi in the country and Ahmed Patel in Gujarat,” he said.

Reacting sharply to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani’s charge that internal problems in the Congress were responsible for six MLAs quitting the party, Mr Gohil said that the Congress has the numbers to ensure the victory of senior party leader Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls. “The BJP does not have the numbers, they cannot even dream of winning the third seat,” he said.

Mr Patel is political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The resignation by six Congress MLAs, including Mr Rajput, followed the exit of Mr Vaghela, brought down the Congress’ strength in the Assembly from 57 to 51. Three of the six later joined the BJP.

Mr Rajput, a relative of Mr Vaghela, has now been fielded by BJP to take on Mr Patel, who is seeking a fifth Rajya Sabha term.

With 51 MLAs on his side, the Congress candidate would easily sail through the vote, but more desertions could put his chances in jeopardy.

The presidential election had seen cross-voting by Congress legislators with the joint Opposition candidate Meira Kumar garnering votes of only 49 MLAs against the Congress’ then strength of 57 in the state Assembly.

Reacting to reports of Congress leaders switching off their cell phones and being unavailable to their constituents who are facing flood fury in Gujarat, Mr Gohil wondered aloud where the Gujarat CM was during floods in Banaskantha, his constituency. “Our MLA were there with the people, but not a single BJP minister was present there,” he said.