Money, muscle power used by BJP to take away Oppn MLAs: TMC

Training his guns on the BJP, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy today alleged that money and muscle power have been used to wean away opposition legislators in many states like Goa, Manipur and Gujarat.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, Roy said six Congress MLAs in Gujarat were lured to quit the party in the run up to the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, while a section of the legislators in Manipur were also recently influenced to switch sides recently.
"Money and muscle power has been used in Gujarat to lure six Congress MLAs. The Election Commission has asked the state authorities to probe the case," he said, claiming that "dubious deals" were also struck in Goa and Manipur.

The Trinmool Congress MP's comments drew sharp reaction from the BJP MPs.
Without naming the BJP, he said the sequence of events like the raids against the RJD leadership and the formation of a new government with support from ruling party at the Centre, reflected how opposition government's are being targeted.
He said there have been attempts to influence certain legislators in West Bengal as well but they were not successful and added that the use of money and muscle power needs to be checked.