Day after quitting AAP, Kailash Gahlot joins BJP
New Delhi (PTI): Former Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday, a day after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
He joined the BJP at its headquarters in the presence of Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Harsh Malhotra, Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva and national media head Anil Baluni among others.
Addressing the media after joining the party, Gahlot said efforts are being made to build a false narrative that his decision to quit the AAP was the result of ED and CBI pressure.
The fact is that the AAP compromised its values, he said.
Khattar described Gahlot's joining as a "turning point" in the politics of the national capital.
The BJP is hopeful that Gahlot's induction into the party will boost its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls as it looks to wrest power from the AAP.
Sachdeva said Gahlot, a two-term MLA and an advocate, is a leader known for his good work.
The former transport minister quit the AAP on Sunday, alleging "political ambitions" had overtaken the party's commitment towards people.
"Instead of fighting for people's rights, we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda," the 50-year-old said in his resignation letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Gahlot, a prominent face of the AAP, also took a jab at Kejriwal as he flagged some "awkward" and "embarrassing" controversies like 'sheeshmahal', saying it makes everyone doubt if "we still believe in being the 'Aam Aadmi'".
The AAP had claimed that Gahlot's decision was influenced by cases being probed against him by central agencies.
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BJP offering Rs 100 cr each to Cong MLAs to topple govt, alleges ruling party MLA Ravi
Mandya (Karnataka) (PTI): Days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP was offering Rs 50 crore to Congress lawmakers to defect, in a bid to topple his government, a ruling party MLA on Monday alleged that it has been raised to Rs 100 crore by the opposition party.
Claiming that Kittur MLA Babasaheb D Patil and Chikkamagaluru MLA H D Thammaiah are among those contacted by the saffron party, Congress MLA from Mandya Ravikumar Gowda (Ravi Ganiga) said, he has "documents and evidence" to prove that the BJP was attempting to lure the ruling party legislators.
However, both Patil and Thammaiah have clarified that they were not contacted or offered money or anything by the BJP or anyone.
The BJP has challenged the Congress and its MLA to release documents and "ensure" a probe.
"...BJP should give up the attempts to dislodge the government, buying MLAs. None of our MLAs will fall for 'Operation Kamala.' We have documents and evidence to prove their attempts, we will release it before the media at an appropriate time soon," Ravi told reporters.
"As allegations after allegations against BJP are coming out, its leaders are worried about going to jail, so they somehow want to form the government. They want to dislodge this government from the money they had made during the previous government, also there are funds from the Centre. JD(S) too has joined them," he alleged.
Alleging that BJP plans to lure about 50 MLAs and thereby wants to bring down the government, the Congress MLA said, none of them will switch sides, as they all were staunch Congressmen.
"Offer was made to 50 legislators, also they had said 30 will be made ministers...they say they don't want anything other than their party government...all kinds of offers were made....As MLAs are not falling for Rs 50 crore, they have now come to Rs 100 crore (offer), they are not worried about Rs 50 or 100 crore, they somehow want to form the government," he said.
Documents and evidence are there in both audio and videos, Ravi further claimed. "Who spoke to whom at which airport or hotel or guest house all are there....after releasing the documents at the earliest, I will meet the CM and request for action....I have already brought things to the notice of the CM."
Home Minister G Parameshwara, reacting to the claims, said "everyone is well aware that there is no value for crores now and any amount can be quoted, but it is true that such attempts are on and BJP is known for it."
"BJP is expert in 'Operation Kamala.' They have done it in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh...they are in such talks in the state. Though the exact amount cannot be quoted, an estimated Rs 50 crore is being offered...it is going on, CM himself has said it," he said.
To a question on BJP and JD(S) asking the government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations, the Home Minister said: "if necessary it will be done....if such a situation arises it will be done."
BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi challenged the Congress to release the audio and video they claim to possess, and ensure a probe.
"To divert the attention, the Congress indulges in such things, because CM Siddaramaiah is caught (in MUDA case)....let them release documents as to who offered crores of money, the Government of India will take actions against them....release documents, investigation should happen," he added.
In the previous Assembly, some Congress MLAs had resigned and come to BJP and they were sent by their party and Siddaramaiah, to ensure that H D Kumaraswamy did not continue as CM of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, Joshi alleged and said, "as they (Congress) had no moral rights to rule, BJP inducted the MLAs who defected and formed the government."
In the 2023 polls, people have given the Congress a clear mandate, he said. "Our party's (BJP) clear stand is to function as a constructive opposition. To hide their lapses and failures they (Congress) are making such absurd allegations without any documents."
