12 AAP MLAs Were Offered Rs 20 Crore Each By BJP: Saurabh Bhardwaj 

After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators’ meeting at national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Thursday, the party’s national spokesperson, Saurabh Bhardwaj, claimed that at least 12 AAP MLAs were offered Rs 20 crore each by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to break the party. He said none of the AAP MLAs accepted the offer, adding that ‘Operation Lotus’, being run by the BJP, has failed.

Bharadwaj was briefing the media after the party legislators’ meeting where the 12 MLAs spoke about the BJP’s “poaching bid”. Earlier, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and four MLAs had already made similar allegations.

Bharadwaj said the AAP legislators have asserted that the Delhi Government is stable and not in any danger. “All MLAs have expressed unequivocal support to Kejriwal, saying they will stand by their CM till their last breath. The BJP planted stories claiming many AAP MLAs will skip the meeting but it turned out to be a lie.”

“At least 12 MLAs (this includes the earlier four) informed us that BJP leaders contacted them asking to switch to their party. In the past one and a half months, the BJP made an attempt to buy 40 AAP MLAs at Rs 20 crore each. The 12 MLAs were approached after the raid at Sisodia’s house,” Bhardwaj pointed out.

He further said the nation wants to know from where the BJP got Rs 800 crore in cash to spend on the MLAs. “The testimony of an MLA is considered to be  proof in the court of law. When the right time comes, we’ll present such proofs in front of the nation that will shake up the foundation of the BJP.”

On Wednesday, Kejriwal called a meeting of the Legislative Party owing to the recent political developments. The MLAs had started arriving at the CM’s house for the meeting even before the scheduled time of 11 am. The meeting lasted 45 minutes, wherein the MLAs briefed the CM regarding their stand on the situation and expressed confidence in the stability of the government while offering their unconditional support to him. Out of 62 AAP legislators, a total of 54 MLAs attended the meeting, while others, including Sisodia, were present virtually.

Bharadwaj also said, “The meeting was conducted keeping in mind the allegation hurled by the BJP spokespersons that a massive scam has taken place in relation to the Excise Policy.”