Cong nether induced nor pressurised BSP MLAS to join it: Gehlot

With BSP chief Mayawati accusing the Congress of "betraying" her for the merger of entire block of six Rajasthan MLAs with the ruling party, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday denied having given any inducement to legislators who switched sides.

He described Mayawati's reaction as "natural", but reiterated that his party did not mount any pressure either on the BSP MLAs.

In a major political development on late Monday night, entire block of six BSP MLAs merged itself with the Congress.

As per the anti-defection law, a group of two-third or more MLAs of any party can switch over to another party without incurring any disqualification.

After BSP MLAs walked over to the Congress, Mayawati accused the ruling party of betraying her, while the opposition BJP and others described the development as Gehlot's 'jugaad' to secure his government.

Reacting sharply to the development, Mayawati, in a series of tweets, dubbed the Congress as a "fraudulent party".

"The Congress government in Rajasthan has lured the BSP MLAs (to its fold) and given proof of being a non-trustworthy and fraudulent party once again," said the BSP supreme in a tweet.

"This act is a betrayal against the of the BSP movement and has been committed when the BSP was giving unconditional, outside support to the Congress government in Rajasthan," she added.

Mayawati lamented that the Congress, instead of fighting rival parties, always hurt the ones which support them.

"Instead of fighting against its rival parties, the Congress always hurt the parties which support them. It amply proves that the Congress has always been an anti-SC/ST/OBC party and has never been sincere and honest about their rights of reservation. It is very sad and shameful."