After the victory of NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan in the Vice Presidential election, cross voting has created a stir in Indian politics. Trinamool Congress (TMC) has made a sensational allegation against the Bharatiya Janata Party of killing democracy by using money power.
TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the BJP spent Rs 15 to 20 crore per MP to buy the votes of Opposition MPs. This claim has also created a stir in the Opposition camp.
Abhishek Banerjee, citing the example of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, also accused the BJP of toppling governments by horse-trading of MLAs.
'BJP leaders had brought bags of money'
Talking to reporters at the airport on his return to Kolkata from Delhi, Abhishek Banerjee said that BJP leaders had brought 'bags of money' to influence the election. He said, "After talking to some people, I can say that the BJP spent Rs 15-20 crore on each person to buy votes. Members elected as public representatives are selling the trust and sentiments of the people. Representatives can be bought, but not the public."
Abhishek Banerjee raised the question that when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had claimed the support of 315 MPs, how did the opposition candidate B Sudarshan Reddy get less votes, while the NDA figure became more than expected? He claimed that all 41 TMC MPs voted for the opposition candidate, even Sudip Bandopadhyay and Saugata Roy, who were unwell, came and voted.
Pointing to the rift in the opposition camp, he said, "Since it was a secret ballot, it is difficult to say whether cross voting took place or votes were rejected. Even if I accept cross voting, there are some parties like Aam Aadmi Party, which has a woman MP openly supporting the BJP."
The unity of the opposition exposed: BJP
BJP has completely rejected these serious allegations of Trinamool Congress. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha member Shamik Bhattacharya termed these allegations as 'baseless'. He hit back saying that the results of the Vice Presidential election have exposed the unity of the opposition.
Bhattacharya said, "I do not want to give importance to them by reacting to their comments. But this Vice Presidential election has clearly shown that NDA is united, while the opposition is completely divided."
Shiv Sena UBT and NCP MPs cross vote: Sanjay Nirupam
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam of Shinde faction claimed on Wednesday that 16 MPs of opposition India Alliance including Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) voted in favour of NDA candidate C. P. Radhakrishnan in the Vice Presidential election. Nirupam told in a press conference that 5 MPs of UBT and MPs of NCP also participated in this cross voting.
Prakash Kumar Pandey