Chandigarh: AAP accuses BJP of horse-trading

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 28

A day after the Aam Aadmi Party won the largest number of seats in the Chandigarh MC poll, its leader Raghav Chadha alleged the party’s three elected councillors were offered from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh to join the BJP to have its own Mayor.

Also read: Chandigarh Mayor’s post: Now, parties try to rope in councillors to gain majority

Addressing a press conference, he alleged under Punjab BJP in-charge Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, two AAP councillors had been offered Rs 50 lakh and another Rs 75 lakh.

Sood refutes allegation

It is a baseless allegation. Chadha took the name of Shekhawat, who was not involved in the poll process here. — Arun Sood, city BJP president

However, when the media asked him for any proof regarding the allegation, he did not disclose anything. However, he said, “We will install CCTV cameras at the houses of our councillors to keep an eye on the BJP. Besides, we have also asked them to record their phone calls to expose the party.”

“The BJP has bought elected representatives in Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The BJP can do it with the Congress, but not with AAP,” he said. (He alleged Union Ministers were also being involved. “The BJP men visited their houses and tried to make them talk to party president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah,” he alleged, terming it “operation kamal.”

Meanwhile, Arun Sood, city BJP president, said, “It is a baseless allegation. Chadha took the name of Gajendra Shekawat, who was not involved in the poll process here. Just because Shekawat is our Punjab in-charge, the AAP wants to make it an issue ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.”

Sood alleged, “Soon after AAP won 14 seats, five less than the majority mark, they declared they were going to have their Mayor. The reason is they were sure of buying the candidates. Also, they are making false allegations so that they can cry foul if the BJP wins the mayoral poll.”

Meanwhile, Congress president Subhash Chawla alleged, “Both parties are involved in horse-trading. Our party’s councillors were also contacted by them, but they refused to meet them.”