The AAP created ripples on Monday by releasing copies of a purported ‘sting’ operation showing Delhi BJP vice-president Sher Singh Dagar offering a bribe of ₹4 crore to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania to switch sides.
AAP national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal released the sting CD here and promised to submit the raw footage to the Supreme Court. He said he will also report the matter to the Election Commission.
“The BJP has been approaching our MLAs to switch sides by luring them with money and other offers. This time they offered AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania ₹4 crore. They also told him that he could contest election on BJP ticket and even if he loses, he will be given chairmanship of any government-run board,” Kejriwal said.
“If the BJP has the numbers then they should form the government. Under any circumstances, we are not going to allow the BJP to form the government by using illegal means,” he added.
Seeks explanation The BJP has reportedly sought an explanation from Dagar.
The Congress was clearly enjoying the spectacle from the sidelines.
Party general-secretary Ajay Maken asserted that the AAP video exposes the “power hungry BJP” which wants to form a government in Delhi “by hook or by crook”.
“They are itching to form the government. If it means purchasing MLAs, so be it,” said Maken. He added that the Supreme Court, which is expected to hear a petition by the AAP demanding fresh polls in Delhi, should take cognizance of the footage provided by the party.
Meanwhile, Dagar, the BJP leader in the video, seemed to have been left to defend himself by the party.
There was no statement either from the central party or from any of the prominent city leaders defending him. Party MLA RP Singh suggested that Dagar should “resign till an enquiry proves him innocent”.
A beleaguered Dagar pleaded innocence.
“I have been in politics for the past 44 years, right from my days as a student. Till now, nobody can point a finger at me in Delhi,” he said. “If somebody can prove these allegations against me, then I will retire from politics.”
Claims innocence He said the reality was that it was not him but the AAP MLAs who had approached him.
“They are spinning a yarn. If you see the footage, I have not mentioned ₹4 crores even once. There was a conversation but I have not offered them anything. In fact, we have our own candidates in these constituencies in whom we have great faith,” he said.
The AAP’s disclosures were made in the wake of heightened activity in the BJP camp to form a government in the capital state.
It was reported last week that Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is believed to be in favour of inviting the BJP to form the government in Delhi.
Since then, both Delhi unit president Satish Upadhayay as well as national president Amit Shah have made statements that indicate that the ruling party will consider forming a government in Delhi.
The Delhi Assembly has been in suspended animation since February, when Kejriwal quit as Chief Minister.
Earlier, the AAP, with its 28 MLAs, had formed the government with the support of eight Congress MLAs.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s number has come down to 28 after three of its MLAs — Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma — were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The strength of the Assembly also went down to 67 and the simple majority mark is now 34.