Sena-BJP alleges use of money power to lure MPs

Mumbai, Jul 23 (UNI) After the failure to keep their MPs together during the trust vote of UPA government, the Shiv Sena and BJP today alleged use of 'money power' as the main reason for their absence and threatened stern action against them.

While Shiv Sena's Parbhani MP Tukaram Renge Patil's absence was anticipated as he skipped the party meetings from July 21, the absence of BJP MP from Yavatmal Haribhau Rathod, once the personal assistant of BJP leader Gopinath Munde, came as a surprise.

Blaming Maharashtra Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for the use of money power, state unit BJP president Nitin Gadkari demanded that Narco test be conducted on both the MPs.

Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Mr Rathod would not remain in the party.

Shiv Sena was trying to get in touch with Mr Patil, but was not successful and the media even carried reports that his son said he was not aware about his father's whereabouts.

Notably, two MPs from the same constituency as Mr Patil -- Ashok Deshmukh and Suresh Jadhav -- had deserted Shiv Sena earlier.

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