SP MLA's suspension ''not linked'' to bribery expose in MP

Bhopal, Mar 20 (UNI) Samajwadi Party Madhya Pradesh unit President Narayan Tripathi today said legislator Kishor Samrite was suspended from the SP for indiscipline and the action had nothing to do with exposing an alleged bribery by the Congress for voting in favour of independent candidate Vivek Krishna Tankha in Rajya Sabha elections.

''The suspension followed his rhetoric against senior SP leaders and violation of a whip. If the facts relating to the bribery are found true then we will support Mr Samrite. Seven of the total eight SP MLAs will vote for Mr Tankha,'' he told reporters here.

Alleging that a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party conspiracy lay behind the bribery, Mr Tripathi added that if that was not so then why was the state government shying from recommending a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

Mr Samrite alleged two days back that the Congress offered him Rs 25 lakh for voting in Mr Tankha's favour after he had declared that his vote would not go to the former advocate-general.

UNI SD-AC MSJ HT2014