AAP govt set to table confidence motion today to prove no defection took place
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In the backdrop of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) charges that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to topple the party's government in Delhi, a "motion of confidence" will be brought in the Delhi assembly by the government to prove that no MLA has joined the opposition's ranks.
Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP has offered Rs 20 crore each to his MLAs to switch sides as part of an "Operation Lotus" - or a plan to topple his government - in Delhi.
"I have heard they are trying to bribe 40 MLAs to cross over. I am happy that not a single MLA has given in," Kejriwal had said.
Meanwhile, his deputy Manish Sisodia had claimed that the BJP had offered to "shut all cases" against him if he quit the AAP and crossed over.
The CBI recently raided Sisodia in a case related to alleged irregularities and corruption in Delhi's liquor policy which was introduced earlier this year and then rolled back. Sisodia is number one on a list of 15 accused named in the CBI's FIR on liquor policy violations. The Enforcement Directorate has also filed a money laundering case against him.
The FIR is based on a reference from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, who had accused AAP of bringing the Excise Policy "with the sole aim" of benefiting private liquor barons for financial benefits to "individuals at the highest echelons of the government. Saxena has alleged various discrepancies in the functioning of the Delhi government. The AAP in turn has accused him of working on the directions of the centre to derail its development projects.
AAP has said that the 2024 general election is set to be a contest between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accuses the BJP of misusing central agencies to try and stop the AAP leader because of his rising popularity and "commendable" work in the education and health sector.
The BJP has denied AAP's allegations, accusing it of trying to divert attention from the corruption in its government. The party also dismissed AAP's claim of being the main challenger to the BJP in the 2024 general election, saying, AAP made tall claims earlier too but could not stand before PM Modi."
AAP has 62 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi assembly. The BJP has eight and needs 28 more for a majority.