My offer to sell RS vote was unofficial: MLA
Ranchi/ New Delhi: Jharkhand Congress MLA Rajesh Ranjan has a confession: yes, I agreed to take money to sell my vote for Rajya Sabha elections but that was “unofficial”.
Ranjan, MLA from Mahagama, was caught by an IBN Network and Cobrapost investigation telling an undercover reporter that he will take Rs one crore to vote for any Rajya Sabha candidate. On Tuesday, he told CNN-IBN the investigation was a “conspiracy” against him.
“Unofficially we talk about a lot of things. It was certain everyone knew that the Congress had sanctioned nominees and everyone tried their best to make them victorious,” said Ranjan when he was asked about his conversation with the undercover reporter. Ranjan was confident that the Congress won't punish him without evidence. “If we go wrong, the party's top brass does take action. You allege that we were ready to sell seats, but it didn't happen. It's a conspiracy.”
The Congress lawmaker, during the investigation, told the undercover reporter he could get the votes of other MLAs--Independents and those of other parties--if they were paid Rs 50 lakh each at least.
Ranjan claimed he could even buy Rajendra Singh, leader of the Congress in the Jharkhand Assembly. “Add Rajender Singh's name to the list. He is the leader of the Congress legislature party. If we take him into confidence, it will help,” he said.
Ranjan later introduced to the undercover reporter two Congress MLAs, Sawan Lakda and Yogender Sahu, who said they vote for any Rajya Sabha candidate if they were paid Rs 50 lakh each.
Ranjan now says the investigation has no “truth”.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), whose MLA, Tek Lal Mahto, wanted Rs one crore for his vote, said the party will discuss the matter but insisted no money had ever changed hands.
The Election Commission held a meeting after the IBN Network and Cobrapost investigation and wants the government to take the lead in cleaning up the elections to the Rajya Sabha.
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