In a surprise move, rebel Congress MLAs from Uttarakhand released an alleged sting video of state chief minister Harish Rawat trying to buy their support.
Rebel Congress MLAs Kunwar Pranav Singh and Saket Bahuguna, the son of former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, released the CD at a press conference in Delhi on Saturday.
Rebel Congress MLAs claimed that Chief Minister Rawat was resorting to horse trading ahead of a crucial trust vote on March 28.
As per TV reports, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has rubbished the charges and called the video fake
“It is unfortunate, we demand that the government be dismissed. I am shocked that such political figures are open to cash for votes,” Kunwar Pranav Singh said.
Saket Bahuguna demanded the Rawat government be dismissed and fresh elections held in the state.
Opposition BJP, which has been backing the rebels, also hit out at the chief minister after the sting was released.
“Harish Rawat and the Congress government has let us and the state of Uttarakhand down. The CM has been caught red handed in the act of horse trading. Harish Rawat and his corrupt govt deserve to be removed from power immediately,” Uttarakhand state BJP president Ajay Bhatt was quoted in saying in media reports.
CM Rawat accused the rebel MLAs of maligning his name. “The video is fake as we all know the 9 Congress MLAs have now defected from the party and lent support to BJP in the state. This also shows they moved to the BJP camp for money,” he said.
