Ahead of LS polls in Delhi, AAP accuses BJP of offering Rs 10 cr each to its 7 MLAs

AAP's Delhi head Gopal Rai said that the BJP was desperate as all its seven MP were losing the Lok Sabha polls.

FILE - Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal (C) gestures while talking to the media as Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia (L) and Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai (R) look on during an event to release the Aam Aadmi Party manifesto at the party headquarters, in New Delhi on April 25, 2019. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

New Delhi: Ahead of Lok Sabha elections in the national capital on May 12, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused the BJP of buying its MLAs claiming the saffron party offered a whopping Rs 10 crore each to at least seven of its MLAs. The sensational claim of horse trading comes amid both parties going hammer and tongs against each other’s Lok Sabha candidates. Speaking to the media, AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, "The BJP has contacted at least seven of our MLAs and offered them Rs 10 crore to leave the party before the Lok Sabha elections. It is in touch with more MLAs, but seven of them informed us." According to Sisodia, if the BJP was doing such things it reflected the AAP's government's success. "Delhi has a government, which is working to resolve the problems faced by the people here. So the BJP does not have any issues to contest the elections. And their false issues are not bought by the public," he said. AAP's Delhi head Gopal Rai said that the BJP was desperate as all its seven MP were losing the Lok Sabha polls. Delhi goes to polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 12. Assembly elections in the state are also scheduled for later this year. Sisodia said that the BJP should contest the elections on its own and on the work done by it. "I want to tell the BJP, (its President) Amit Shah and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, if you have courage, fight the elections on issues. But please don't try to buy the AAP MLAs," he said. The Deputy Chief Minister also said that it will not be easy for the saffron party to buy AAP MLAs as they would inform their party about it. "Before the MCD elections, the BJP managed to buy our MLA from Bawana, but people taught it a good lesson. So I want to tell the BJP that if it has an agenda to change the country it should focus on that." Referring to Modi's comment that 40 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs in West Bengal were in touch with him, Sisodia said, "They are trying to do with AAP MLA in Delhi what they're attempting with TMC MLAs in West Bengal. The PM trying to weaken the democracy by purchasing Oppposition MLAs. Does it look good? I want to ask Modi. Have some shame and respect democracy," Sisodia added. Rai said: "The party has repeatedly shown that it does not believe in democracy and the Constitution. I urge people of Delhi to teach the BJP a lesson." The BJP however rubbished the claim terming it "bizarre allegation" and a "desperate bid to gain attention". Reacting to Sisodia's poaching allegations, Delhi BJP media head Ashok Goyal said, "The AAP is baffled as it is losing the elections and its leaders are trying desperately to gain attention by making bizarre allegations." "Arvind Kejriwal is not being able to stop the rebellion of AAP MLAs and is dragging BJP's name in their internal problems," Goyal said. (With additional information from Agencies)