AAP Rides ‘Horse-Trading’ Plank Ahead of Poll Outcome
AAP workers at a polling booth Image credit X.com
AAP Steps Up Heat on BJP with Poaching Allegations
By Amit Kumar
New Delhi, February 6: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stepped up heat on the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi by levelling allegations of horse-trading. The counting of votes in the Delhi Assembly elections will take place on Saturday.
Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday accused the BJP of horse-trading of MLAs. He alleged that seven MLAs of the party have been contacted to join the BJP.
Singh claimed that the AAP MLAs have been offered ₹15 crores each. The allegations ahead of the counting of votes have caught the political analysts by surprise.
Questions are being raised on AAP’s intention behind accusing of horse-trading of MLAs. Exit polls have predicted defeat of the AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Even before the announcement of the election results, a round of allegations and counter-allegations has started between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. Singh asserted that the AAP is winning the elections. “Arvind Kejriwal is sure to become the Chief Minister of Delhi once again,” Singh claimed.
The AAP has asked the MLAs to record the phone calls and make videos with a hidden camera when they meet with leaders of rival party. Eight sitting MLAs of the AAP had joined the BJP during the course of the electioneering.
The AAP had denied party tickets to the eight MLAs who switched ranks to the BJP. The AAP had denied party tickets to a total of 22 sitting MLAs. The AAP had a strength of 62 MLAs in the outgoing Delhi Assembly.
The accusations of the AAP appear to be a psychological attack on the BJP. Anti-defection law warrants that two-third of the MLAs need to defect to escape disqualification from the Assembly.
But scores of the Congress MLAs in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh had joined ranks with the BJP to topple their own governments in the two states in the recent past.
“By speaking of horse-trading of MLAs before counting of votes, the AAP wants to give a message to the workers that the party is going to form the government,” said a senior AAP functionary, who added that effort is to boost the morale of the party workers.
In a close contest, the margin of victory and defeat is very less on many seats, he added. “It is important for the workers to be active to prevent any kind of disturbance on such seats,” said the AAP functionary.
The AAP leaders are wary of close contests on several Assembly seats in Delhi. The BJP has countered, saying that the AAP is in the habit of levelling wild allegations.
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