The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday rubbished allegations of indulging in horse-trading in Uttarakhand where nine Congress legislators have revolted, and demanded that Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s government be dismissed as it had lost its majority.
The party also challenged the chief minister to prove his majority in the assembly.
“Allegations of horse-trading are ridiculous. The legislators of Congress have revolted against the functioning of Rawat and his dictatorial attitude,” BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya told reporters here yesterday.
His assertion came against the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging that the BJP was indulging in horse-trading in Uttarakhand.
“Brazen horse trading-first Arunachal now Uttarakhand. BJP proving to be most corrupt, deshdrohi and power hungry,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Vijayvargiya however said the Congress leaders, who have revolted against the chief minister, are not those who can be bought for money.
“Vijay Bahuguna is among the rebel Congress leaders. He was the chief minister of the state. What does the Congress want to say? Do they mean Vijay Bahuguna is for sale?” he said.
Vijayvargiya also challenged Rawat to prove his majority if he claims so. “If voting had taken place in the assembly yesterday (Friday), he would have known his strength. I challenge him to prove his majority on any forum.”
He also said the anti-defection law against the rebel Congress leaders would not stand because the BJP had already moved a no-confidence motion against the speaker.
Viyajvargiya also claimed to have the support of 35 legislators in the 70-member assembly. “We have support of 35 MLAs and are waiting for the governor’s response.”
The BJP also demanded that the Congress government be dismissed.
“The governor should dismiss the Rawat government in Uttarakhand. It has no moral right to remain in power as it has lost the confidence of its MLAs,” BJP secretary Srikant Sharma told reporters here.
In a late Friday night development, at least nine Congress legislators arrived in New Delhi with all the BJP members of the Uttarakhand assembly by a chartered plane.
Vijayvargiya, BJP national vice president Uttarakhand Shyam Jaju and senior Congress leader Bahuguna were also among those who arrived here.
The political upheaval began with the Finance Bill coming up for passage in the assembly, giving ruling party rebels an opportunity to prove that the government has lost its majority.
Led by Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat, they walked over to the BJP camp.
Earlier, Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal declared the bill as passed which led to further furore.
Harak Singh Rawat, who had lost the chief ministerial post to Rawat when the government was formed, later resigned from the state cabinet.
Vijayvargiya said here that the Rawat government was now in a minority and the governor should dismiss it. “We are ready to form the government as well as to face fresh elections,” he said.