Congress refutes allegations of horse-trading ahead of vote count (Update-Congress)

Lucknow, July 18 : All India Congress Committee General Secretary and the in-charge of the party's Uttar Pradesh affairs, Digvijay Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today separately refuted allegations of horse-trading of MPs made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of Tuesday's vote of confidence in Parliament.

Digvijay Singh told reporters after attending a party function in Lucknow that the Congress has never compromised on issues concerned with national interest for any political gain.

He said that senior BJP leader L. K. Advani is indulging himself in horse-trading to become the country's next prime minister.

"Advani is shaking hands with Bahujan Samaj Party (BMS) for the post of prime minister. Is it not horse-trading? The Congress party doesn't believe in horse-trading. We have appealed to all the respected parliamentarians to listen to their inner voice and vote as per their own conscience," he said.

Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, Pranab Mukherjee said: "We are not concerned with any horse-trading. This is malicious propaganda."

The government needs to reach the 272 mark in the Lok Sabha to win the vote of confidence.

ANI