Gehlot said BJP is buying MLAs like buying goats for Eid
Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is horse-trading MLAs to topple elected governments in states, just like goats are bought for Eid. . Gehlot said the BJP had toppled governments in Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh by using money power and unsuccessfully tried to oust them in Rajasthan as well.
Gehlot's reference was indirect to the turmoil at the time when Gehlot seemed ready to contest for the post of Congress President. Gehlot was addressing a rally in Khedbrahma town of Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. Assembly elections are due in Gujarat by the end of this year. He said the Congress manifesto for the assembly elections would be released by November 8.
Gehlot said, "BJP's actions are weakening democracy. They topple the state governments and form their government by horse-trading MLAs. They buy MLAs by using money received through electoral bonds, just like people buy goats from bakra mandis during Eid.
"The BJP first toppled the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and formed its government. The same thing happened in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. About Rs, 35 crores were paid to each MLA. Though they tried to do this in Rajasthan recently, but they could not succeed as all the MLAs remained united," he said.
He also expressed displeasure over the recent defection of Congress MLA from Khedbrahma Ashwin Kotwal to the ruling BJP. Before Khedbrahma, Gehlot and other senior Congress leaders addressed a rally at Virampur village in Banaskantha in north Gujarat. During the Virampur rally, Gehlot said that Congress will announce its election manifesto for Gujarat on November 8. He said the party would mainly focus on social security like free health, education, and employment.
“We will implement the social security model of Rajasthan in Gujarat. We provide medical insurance of Rs 10 lakh to each family. We also run a free kitchen where one can get food for Rs.8. Instead of 100 days, we employ 125 days under MGNREGA.
