Horse-trading rates up after session date; scared Maya acting at BJP’s behest: Ashok Gehlot
New Delhi | Jaipur: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has said “rates of horse-trading have increased”, with the assembly session set to begin on August 14. He alleged BSP chief Mayawati “was working at the behest of BJP due to fear”, for raking up in court the issue of six BSP MLAs ‘merging’ into Congress last September.
“After the assembly session was announced last night, the rates of horse trading have increased. Earlier, the first instalment was of Rs 10 crore and second was of Rs 15 crore. Now it has become unlimited and everyone knows who is doing horse-trading,” Gehlot told reporters in Jaipur.
About Mayawati’s party moving court against BSP MLAs ‘merger’, the CM said: “Her complaint is not justified. Mayawati is doing this at the behest of the BJP. She is scared, and therefore, is making statements against Congress.”
Gehlot held a meeting of his MLAs earlier on Thursday. It was decided that the MLAs will remain at the Jaipur hotel till the assembly session is over. He said he has instructed his ministers to regularly attend office and carry out administrative work, especially Covid-19 related issues.
Meanwhile, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the Centre were “trying to murder democracy in Rajasthan” and recalled how government’s led by parties belonging to the national opposition were toppled in many states, including Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking at a virtual meeting of party MPs in New Delhi, she alleged the Centre and BJP were “using government agencies and money power” to try and topple the Rajasthan government and hoped the efforts will not succeed.