Arvind Kejriwal defends Mohaniya, says BJP approached him

New Delhi, Sept 9:

chief

on Tuesday said that it was the

that contacted its MLA Dinesh Mohaniya in a bid to induce him to quit the assembly, improving the BJP's chances of forming the government in Delhi.

Reacting to the video released by the AAP on Monday that showed Delhi BJP vice president Sher Singh Dagar offering bribes to Mohaniya, the BJP leader had alleged that the AAP MLA had come to meet him as he wanted to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Our MLA did not go there (to meet Dagar); he was contacted (by the BJP). And even if he went on his own, why was he offered Rs.4 crore? It was clear that our MLA was being poached," Kejriwal said on Tuesday, countering Dagar's allegation.

Kejriwal: It's sad that the BJP is indulging in horse-trading

"It's sad that the BJP is indulging in horse-trading to form a government in Delhi," Kejriwal added.

The covertly shot video shows Dagar making the bribe offer to Mohaniya whose resignation would have brought down the effective strength of the hung Delhi assembly.

The BJP now has 28 members in the 70-seat Delhi legislature after three of its members got elected to the Lok Sabha. The AAP has 27 members and the Congress only eight. There are four other members in the house.

Delhi has been under the president's rule after the Kejriwal quit as chief minister in February this year.

IANS