Congress MLA alleges money offer during Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar

Patna: Congress MLA from Chanpatia, Abhishek Ranjan, on Friday alleged that money was offered to him to ensure the victory of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections held earlier this week, but he refused the offer.Asked by reporters how much money had been offered, Ranjan said, “The amount was so much that any other person could have lost his or her ‘jameer (inner personal value and honesty).’ I, a simple party worker who was chosen to contest the assembly election, decided to believe in the party’s credo, the country’s Constitution and democracy. I came out untainted.” Three Congress MLAs abstained from voting during the Rajya Sabha election held on March 16. Ranjan, however, voted for the Grand Alliance nominee from the RJD.Rejecting Ranjan’s allegation, BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma said, “He and others like him are merely making imaginary claims. There is no truth in that.”Two of the Congress MLAs who abstained from voting had earlier alleged that All India Congress Committee (AICC) incharge for Bihar Krishna Allavaru and state Congress president Rajesh Ram had told them they were “free to take their own decision and course” regarding their vote for the Grand Alliance candidate from the RJD.However, Ranjan said, “Allavaru had told the party’s MLAs to vote for the Grand Alliance candidate from the RJD.”The Grand Alliance candidate, Amarendra Dhari Singh, a sitting Rajya Sabha member of the RJD, eventually lost to the BJP nominee Shivesh Ram after an RJD MLA also abstained from voting. Ranjan said, “After the filing of nomination papers by candidates, when the NDA fielded its fifth candidate from the BJP, it became obvious that the BJP would indulge in horse trading.”