BJP can go to any level, need to protect Himachal's Cong MLAs from poaching bid: Bhupesh Baghel
As the Assembly poll trends showed the Congress is heading towards getting a majority in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday (December 8) said the party must protect its MLAs in the hill state from any possibility of horse-trading.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can “go to any level”, he stated.
The Congress surged ahead of the BJP on 39 of the 68 seats with one seat already under its belt, while the ruling party has won four seats and was ahead in 21 constituencies. This is according to election result trends from Himachal Pradesh where the counting of votes is underway.
Baghel, who was appointed as senior observer by the Congress for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, denied speculation that the newly-elected party MLAs from Himachal Pradesh (HP) will be shifted to Chhattisgarh.
“The counting is still underway and we should wait for the final results. However, we were confident that we will form government in Himachal Pradesh and the early trends show we are heading towards victory,” Baghel told reporters.
Also read: Congress set to win Himachal polls as state continues anti-incumbency tradition
The Chhattisgarh CM said he will go to the northern state later in the day.
Asked whether the Congress will shift their MLAs from Himachal to Raipur amid the possibility of horse-trading, Baghel said, “They will not be brought to Raipur. However, we have to protect our friends (MLAs), as the BJP can do anything. It can go to any level.”
He claimed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was the B team of the BJP.
Speaking about the Bhanupratappur bypoll in the state’s Kanker district, in which Congress candidate Savitri Mandavi was leading, Baghel said, “It shows they have put their stamp of approval on works done by party MLA Manoj Singh Mandvi.” Manoj Singh Mandavis death in October this year necessitated the by-election in Bhanupratappur Assembly seat. Congress candidate Savitri Mandavi is the late MLAs wife.
