Congress raises ‘BJP bid to bribe Gujarat MLAs’ in Parliament

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday raised the issue of “kidnapping” of its MLAs in Gujarat in both Houses of  Parliament.

Following the ruckus created by the Congress, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for some time. In Lok Sabha, as the House assembled, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge led the charge, alleging that the Congress MLAs were “under pressure” while Congress MP Mr Jyotiradity Scindia claimed that Congress MLAs in Gujarat were being “offered Rs 15 crore to support the BJP”.

Both Mr Kharge and Mr Scindia wanted a discussion on the issue in the House, which was turned down by the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

The Speaker said that this was a state subject and “cannot be discussed in the House”.

In Rajya Sabha, the Congress MPs accusing the BJP of  “luring its MLAs by offering Rs 10-15 crore”, rushed to the Well of the House demanding a discussion. The Chair adjourned the House for 10 minutes. Deputy chairman P.J. Kurian said to the Congress members, “If you want discussion, give a separate notice. We will consider it.”

As Rajya Sabha met after brief adjournment, minister of state parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to turn the tables by saying that it was Congress which was “kidnapping its own MLAs.”

Mr Naqvi said, “The Congress has kidnapped its own MLAs and are keeping them in a resort at a time when the people of Gujarat were facing miseries from flash floods. You should be ashamed.”

Later,  Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said that despite BJP’s efforts, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel would “win comfortably”.

He, however, said that Mr Patel was contesting the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat as a senior Congress leader, not as political secretary to party chief Sonia Gandhi.

“There’s no need to drag Ms Gandhi’s name into this Rajya Sabha election,” Mr Azad said and added, “Ahmed bhai will win by a margin of at least 10 to 15 votes.”

Accusing BJP of “plotting” to defeat Mr Patel, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, “Why has the BJP fielded its third candidate for the polls when it does not have the requisite number of MLAs in support? It is only to steal our MLAs.”

Four candidates will contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Gujarat on August 8. These include BJP national president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani, political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel and former Congress MLA and now BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput.

With the current strength of the BJP, Mr Shah and Ms Irani will be easily elected. But there will be a contest between Mr Patel and Mr Rajput.