Abhishek Banerjee Accuses BJP of Spending ₹15–20 Crore per MP to ‘Buy Votes’ in VP Poll
Kolkata | September 11: Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP after the NDA’s candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan won the Vice-Presidential election, alleging that the ruling party spent ₹15–20 crore per MP to “buy votes” and influence the outcome of the secret ballot.
Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport upon his return from Delhi, Banerjee said the BJP “used its financial muscle to manipulate the mandate,” calling it a blatant assault on democracy.
“Each MP was reportedly offered ₹15 to ₹20 crore. This was not an election, it was an auction,” Banerjee said.
NDA Secures Big Win Amid Cross-Voting Suspicions
The Vice-Presidential election saw C.P. Radhakrishnan, the NDA nominee and current Maharashtra Governor, secure 452 votes, while Opposition candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy got 300 votes. Of the 781 MPs eligible to vote, 767 cast their ballots—a 98.2% turnout, according to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody, who served as the Returning Officer.
Out of these, 752 votes were deemed valid, setting the required majority at 377. Banerjee raised doubts over the result, saying:
“How did the NDA manage 452 votes when the INDIA bloc had reportedly 315 confirmed supporters? There was cross-voting, and the numbers don’t add up.”
He confirmed that all 41 TMC MPs (28 Lok Sabha + 13 Rajya Sabha) voted for Reddy, including senior leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Saugata Roy, who made it to Delhi despite health issues.
Opposition Betrayals, BJP’s Past Tactics Cited
Banerjee criticised the disunity within the Opposition, referencing an AAP MP who openly defied the party’s line by voting for the BJP. Drawing parallels to previous instances, he accused the BJP of consistent misuse of money power:
- In 2021 Bengal elections, he said, BJP “poured in cash but failed.”
- In 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he alleged attempts to bribe polling agents with ₹5,000–₹10,000.
- He cited government topples in Maharashtra and Jharkhand via “MLA poaching.”
“Leaders can be bought, but not the people,” Banerjee declared, reinforcing Bengal’s political resilience.
BJP Dismisses Allegations as ‘Baseless’
The BJP hit back swiftly. Party state president and Rajya Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar dismissed the claims as “baseless and desperate.”
“The Vice-Presidential election result is a clear reflection of NDA unity and Opposition disarray. They should introspect instead of making wild allegations,” he said.
Banerjee Questions Voter List, Slams Centre on Key Issues
Banerjee also challenged the Centre over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying if the voter list used in the 2024 general election was flawed, then:
“Dissolve Parliament and conduct a nationwide SIR. We will support it.”
He further accused the BJP of politicising laws like the CAA, questioning how many people have actually received citizenship under the act. He also criticised the demonetisation move, saying it helped industrialist cronies rather than curbing black money.
He reiterated concerns over:
- The death of over 700 farmers during protests against now-repealed farm laws.
- The ethnic violence in Manipur, which he said was ignored for two years.
- Ongoing unrest in Nepal, where he said the TMC stands with the government’s efforts to maintain national sovereignty.
