AAP accuses BJP of poaching councillors

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday once again accused the BJP of attempting to poach its councillors ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee elections on September 26.

AAP MLAs Durgesh Pathak and Sanjeev Jha, along with Mukesh Solanki, husband of AAP councillor Rinku Mukesh Solanki, alleged that the BJP is offering bribes ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore to AAP councillors, and threatening them with ED-CBI raids if they refuse to join.

Pathak said, “On one hand, honest politics is being championed in the country under the leadership of Kejriwal, and on the other hand, politics of lies, deceit, breaking parties and buying MPs, MLAs and councillors is underway.”

“They (BJP) arbitrarily appointed 10 Aldermen and wanted to force them to vote in the House, but the court stopped them. After this, they (BJP) have been continuously working to break our councillors,” Pathak added.

“About 1.5 years ago, the people of Delhi gave AAP a huge majority in the MCD elections. The BJP kept creating disruptions in the House for three to four months, which even led to a scuffle. Now, they are offering Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore to our councillors,” said Pathak.

He further alleged that AAP councillor Ram Chander from Bawana was forcibly made to join the BJP under threats of ED-CBI action. “When he returned to AAP after two days, BJP members abducted him from his house,” he added.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA from Burari, Sanjeev Jha, claimed that Sundar Tanwar, a BJP candidate, attempted to influence a councillor in his constituency before the elections.

“Tanwar offered the councillor Rs 2 crore and a promise of an MLA ticket in exchange for joining the BJP. He also threatened that if they refused, the ED-CBI would harass them. Tanwar even said the Chief Minister of Goa wanted to speak with them. Similarly, he is approaching other councillors, trying to buy them through threats,” Jha alleged.

He emphasised that the BJP could not easily break or buy AAP councillors and called for the public to be made aware of BJP’s tactics by recording these incidents on camera.

Solanki said he received calls from acquaintances urging him to vote for the BJP in the Standing Committee elections. “I have been associated with the BJP for 15 years. When pressure was applied, I had to inform the senior leaders of my party. We stand with Kejriwal with full loyalty and will not betray the party,” Solanki affirmed.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Friday hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its repeated accusations of “Operation Lotus”, calling it a sign of the party’s “defeat and frustration”.

Sachdeva dismissed AAP’s claims, stating that they were using these allegations to prevent the disintegration of their own party amid dissatisfaction within its ranks.

“Many AAP MLAs and councillors, disillusioned by the Kejriwal government’s corruption and inefficiency, are leaving the party. In desperation, AAP leaders are trying to prevent their collapse by making baseless allegations,” said Sachdeva.

Referring to previous accusations made by AAP leaders, Sachdeva pointed out that Atishi, who had accused the BJP of orchestrating ‘Operation Lotus’ in the past, is currently out on bail. He added that AAP leaders should remember this before making fresh claims about the BJP attempting to influence Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) members.

Denying any involvement in “Operation Lotus”, Sachdeva claimed that the BJP had never tried to poach Opposition members. “In 2013, when we had 32 MLAs, many Opposition members were ready to join us, but we rejected such proposals. We do not believe in any ‘Operation Lotus’,” he claimed.

Echoing Sachdeva’s sentiments, East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra also lashed out at AAP. “When you yourself engage in such acts, then you blame others for it. The character of AAP is such that it always remains under suspicion. They are corrupt, and they will go to any lengths. If they could deceive the people of Delhi for 10 years, then they are capable of anything. They should look within their own party before accusing others,” Malhotra stated.

The Delhi BJP leaders’ remarks come in response to recent allegations made by AAP, accusing the BJP of attempting to break their party by luring away MLAs and councillors through “Operation Lotus”.