BJP Accused of 'Horse Trading' as 23 Congress Corporators Go MIA

Before the upcoming Legislative Council elections in India, 23 Congress corporators from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts have reportedly become unreachable. The party's legislative leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, accused his BJP counterparts of using financial inducement to engineer defections.

The allegation stems from the assertion that these corporators received an advance payment of Rs 5 lakh each. Wadettiwar has threatened legal action by issuing an official party whip in an attempt to disqualify them under the anti-defection law, which he says will be brought up at a future time.

An Increasingly Troubling Trend

Wadettiwar highlighted that such practices have been on the rise since 2014. He noted that what began with payments of Rs 5 lakh has escalated, with some parties now offering double or even higher amounts. 'If Rs 15 lakh is being paid for one vote, will democracy survive in the future?' Wadettiwar questioned.

The financial expenditure for these elections was reported to have reached nearly Rs 100 crore, an amount beyond what ordinary people can afford. This has raised concerns not just about electoral integrity but also the sustainability of democratic principles under such practices.

Adding to the complexity, Wadettiwar clarified that the Congress would only consider unopposed elections in a particular constituency if the BJP agreed to broader consensus on candidates across all contested seats. He also mentioned receipt of potential candidate names from Wardha, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli districts.

The decision-making process for both parties is closely watched as votes cast by corporators and zilla parishad members could play a decisive role in the forthcoming Vidhan Parishad elections from their local bodies' constituencies.