AAP alleges BJP offering bribe to MLAs, FIR filed in Punjab
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AAP in Punjab has accused the BJP of offering Rs 5 crore, a meeting with BJP bigwigs in Delhi, and also a ticket for a Member of Parliament to entice one of its MLAs to defect from the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
AAP's Ludhiana South MLA Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina has filed a formal complaint with the Ludhiana police, alleging bribery and coercive tactics employed by the BJP.
According to the FIR filed by Chhina, she was offered a sum of Rs 5 crore to defect from AAP and join the BJP. The offer, allegedly made by an individual identifying himself as Sewak Singh from the BJP's Delhi office, also included promises of a ticket for Member of Parliament and meetings with high-ranking BJP leaders in the capital.
Chhina claims to have received these offers through phone calls originating from international numbers, including Sweden, despite the caller asserting to be in Delhi.
The FIR, registered under sections 171-E of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 123(1) of the Representation of People Act, highlights the seriousness of the allegations and underscores the gravity of the situation. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police-2, Dev Singh, has confirmed that investigations are underway, although the origin of the calls remains uncertain.
In response to these allegations, Jaibans Singh, the chief spokesperson for the BJP in Punjab, has categorically denied any association with an individual named Sewak Singh within the party. Singh has urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth behind Chhina's claims.
This development comes as a significant blow to the AAP, which is already reeling from defections within its ranks. The defection of sitting Jalandhar MP Sushil Kumar Rinku and MLA Sheetal Angural to the BJP has further exacerbated the party's challenges in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Rinku, who was previously designated as AAP's nominee for the Jalandhar seat, has dealt a severe blow to the party's prospects in the region.
The political landscape in Punjab is witnessing heightened tensions and intense manoeuvring as parties gear up for the crucial Lok Sabha elections. The allegations of bribery and inducement levelled against the BJP by AAP only serve to exacerbate the already charged atmosphere, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the ethical standards of political conduct.