BJP denies horse-trading, says only thwarted poaching

SHIMLA: Reacting sharply to the charge of horse-trading in elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) leveled by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the BJP today said that it only guarded its councilors from poaching by the ruling party.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 22

Reacting sharply to the charge of horse-trading in elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) leveled by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the BJP today said that it only guarded its councilors from poaching by the ruling party.

“We were cautious of the misadventures of the Congress in 1998 when, independent MLA, Romesh Dhawala was whisked away on his way to Shimla and taken to residence of the Chief Minister. We ensured that the same game plan did not succeed this time”, said former BJP state president and sitting BJP MLA from Shimla (Urban) Suresh Bhardwaj.

“It is regrettable that Virbhadra Singh instead of accepting the defeat gracefully, is trying to shift the blame on BJP by making false charges but the people are aware of it and would not be misled”, he added.

He said the Congress councilors feel insulted in the party and that’s why a Congress-backed councilor moved to the BJP and another expressed his inclination through cross voting during the elections held through secret ballot.

In fact, it was the other way round and the Congress tried its best to approach our councilors and when it failed, it resorted to intimidation of family members of the councilors and also pressurised them but all their attempts were thwarted.

The Congress leaders are blaming the BJP for the defeat to escape from the responsibility, said Mahinder Dharmani, in charge, BJP Shimla Mandal adding that the Congress should resolve its internal issues before pointing a finger on others.

Meanwhile, BJP chief spokesperson Rajiv Bindal said that after facing defeat in the SMC, the Chief Minister is now insulting the elected councilors and the general public which has given their mandate in favour of the BJP.

In a press release issued here today Bindal asked the Chief Minister why the elections were not held on party symbols, why direct elections to the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was changed to indirect elections, why policemen in plain clothes were deployed near the BJP office and when BJP won 17 seats and had support of one independent why Chief Minister involved himself in horse-trading.