Punjab BJP has rebutted the allegations of AAP in which the latter accused the former of offering money to its two leaders for joining BJP recently.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar refuted claims made by AAP MLAs alleging monetary inducements to switch parties, labelling their accusations as audacious. Jakhar’s remarks came following the defection of AAP’s lone Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku and Jalandhar West MLA Sheetal Angural to the BJP, which sparked controversy and accusations of a renewed “Operation Lotus” in Punjab.
Operation Lotus, a term used by opposition parties to describe alleged poaching of MLAs by the BJP to destabilize governments, has drawn sharp criticism from AAP, who accused the saffron party of attempting to dismantle the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.
Addressing reporters after a party meeting alongside former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Jakhar urged the Election Commission to launch a probe into allegations of Rs 25-crore offer, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
In response to allegations made by AAP MLAs, including Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy of an offer amounting to Rs 20-25 crore, Jakhar emphasised the importance of uncovering the truth behind the alleged inducements.
Meanwhile, newly inducted BJP member Sheetal Angural tendered his resignation as MLA from the Punjab Assembly, following his joining BJP after leaving AAP recently. Angural, who won the Jalandhar West assembly seat in the 2022 elections, submitted his resignation to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, citing his immediate withdrawal from legislative duties.
Angural’s resignation comes in the wake of a flurry of defections and political maneuverings, underscoring the shifting dynamics within Punjab’s political landscape as parties gear up for the upcoming elections.