Alka Lamba accuses BJP of trying to poach MLAs
Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba has alleged that BJP leaders are calling Aam Aadmi Party legislators and luring them to switch sides by offering tickets in the Lok Sabha elections or coveted government posts.
In a series of tweets, the AAP legislator claimed that she, too, received a call from a BJP leader. Though she did not name the BJP leader, Lamba said she will make the phone recording public at an opportune time.
“The BJP leader who called cited example of Shazia Ilmi (former AAP leader who joined BJP ahead of 2015 assembly elections) saying that she is earning ₹5 lakh after getting a government post. You should also think,” Lamba tweeted.
The mention of her name in the tweets irked Ilmi who got into a war of words with Lamba. Ilmi reminded Lamba about the previous association with the Congress before joining AAP.
Tweets of Lamba on the issue were retweeted by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Speaking at a press conference at party office, AAP (Delhi) convener Dilip Pandey said party legislator from Jangpura, Praveen Deshmukh, has also been approached by the BJP leaders.
“It’s a well-known fact that the BJP has been using such tactics in other states as well to form government…But would like to make it clear to the BJP that its dirty tactics would not bear fruits as our legislators are out to put in place an alternative polity in the country,” Pandey said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar denied the charges. “I haven’t seen the tweets yet. But this is the outcome of their personal rivalry. On the question of AAP leaders being lured, I would say this has been the culture of AAP and Congress. The BJP never invites leaders of other parties to join and it will never do in future... Why don’t they wait for another day? The results will be out on April 26, which will make things clear,” Kumar said.
On March 28, AAP legislator from Bawana, Ved Parkash had quit Delhi assembly and the party to join the BJP.
Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking deferring of the MCD poll result in one out of the
270 wards where polling took place on Sunday.
Justice RK Gauba declined to stop the counting in one of the wards, saying it would disturb the process in other wards as well.
The petitioner had sought direction to the government to stop counting of votes in ward no. 69 S, under North Delhi Municipal Corporation, for two days.
The petitioner, who had contested from this ward, said the CBI should conduct an inquiry into his allegation that the Congress candidate from there had cheated and bought votes by distributing liquor and money.