Madhya Pradesh: BJP MLA claims he was approached by Congress
Sources said that Sitaram Adiwasi was forced to come out with a clarification after his name began doing the rounds as the third BJP MLA, who was about to cross vote in favour of the Congress after a discussion on a bill in the Vidhan Sabha on July 24.
In Short
- BJP MLA Sitaram Adiwasi has said that Congress had tried to poach him
- He said that the Congress offered him money and ministerial birth but he refused
- The Congress allegedly approached him for cross voting on July 24 and later jump ship
BJP MLA from Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh, Sitaram Adiwasi, has alleged that the Congress offered him cash and ministerial berth to support the party during a vote held at the Vidhan Sabha on July 24.
Sources said that Sitaram Adiwasi was forced to come out with a clarification after his name began doing the rounds as the third BJP MLA, who was about to cross vote in favour of the Congress after a discussion on a bill in the Vidhan Sabha on July 24.
Two BJP MLAs, Narayan Tripathi and Sharad Kol cross voted in favour of the Congress that day. They also said that they would be joining the Congress. The BJP has however not taken any action against them as part of a strategy. If the MLAs are expelled from the BJP they would be unattached MLAs and would then be independent MLAs for all practical purposes.
Since July 24, there has been speculation that the Congress was in touch with three MLAs from the BJP to switch over but one of them changed his mind in the end.
In that context, Sitaram Adiwasi was being spoken of the third MLA.
On Wednesday, Sitaram Adiwasi said that while he was being pursued by the Congress, was offered cash and ministerial berth, he will not leave the party that has done a lot for him. He said that the BJP has done a lot for the tribal community too.
Sitaram Adiwasi had contested the assembly elections from Sheopur thrice in the past but lost. He finally managed to defeat senior Congress leader Ramniwas Rawat in the 2018 elections.
Sitaram Adiwasi was earlier in the news because he said he did not have a pucca house and lived in a hut. After the news, locals donated money and resources to build a house for him.