BJP trying to 'buy' 7 AAP MLAs for Rs 10 cr each: Manish Sisodia

NEW DELHI: Accusing the BJP of indulging in horse-trading, AAP leader and Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia Wednesday alleged that seven of his party MLAs in the national Capital have been offered Rs 10 crore each to join the saffron party. The BJP, however, rubbished the claim terming it "bizarre allegation" and a "desperate bid to gain attention".

Manish Sisodia alleged the BJP had earlier too tried to 'buy' AAP MLAs and they were given an appropriate response by the public and claimed that this time also they will get a befitting reply. "Since the BJP does not have any development issue to raise, it has now come down to indulge in horse-trading by attempting to buy seven of our MLAs for Rs 10 crore each," he said.

Deputy CM Sisodia also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment that 40 Trinamool Congress MLAs in West Bengal are in touch with him and will desert their party once the BJP wins the general elections. "It does not suit the Prime Minister to make such comments. He (Modi) should realise that India is a democratic country and he is here because of democracy," the AAP leader said, alleging the BJP is trying to do the same thing in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created a flutter earlier this week when he claimed that 40 legislators of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress were itching to jump ship as soon as the results are announced. "Didi, on May 23, the day of results, the lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you and run. Even today, Didi, 40 of your MLAs are in contact with me," he had said at a rally in Serampore.

This is not the first time AAP has accused the BJP of horse trading. In 2014, party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal released a sting video that purportedly showed a senior BJP leader offering Rs 4 crores to AAP leader Dinesh Mohania in return for support to form the government in Delhi.

Reacting to Sisodia's allegation, 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.