Cong sold Alwar seat for Rs 2.5 cr, says Makwana

ET
JAIPUR: After Congress leader Margaret Alva's startling revelation, AICC, SC cell chief Yogendra Makwana has claimed that the party sold Alwar (rural) ticket in Rajasthan for Rs 2.5 crore. He also alleged that at least two women aspirants were asked to cough up huge money for party tickets.

"It is not only the case of two women aspirants, I have also received complaints that the Alwar rural seat was given to one Tikaram Juli for Rs 2.5 crore,'' he told TOI over phone from New Delhi. The Alwar (rural) reserved seat was created after delimitation.

Makwana, however, refused to disclose his future course of action and maintained that he would open his cards on November 15. ``I am in consultation with my people. Whether I will remain with the party or quit will be decided only on November 15,'' he said. Regarding the two women ticket aspirants, he said, ``I have received a complaint from Sushila Bunkar who was asked to pay Rs 40 lakh for allowing her to contest from one of the seats in Alwar.

Similarly, Mamta Kaichi was asked to pay Rs 80 lakh for Baran-Atru SC sear,'' he said. Makwana has madeup his mind to quit Congress and extend his support to the newly-formed National Bahujan Congress Party (NBC) headed by Gopal Denwal, former chairman of the Rajasthan Congress, SC cell.

Denwal quit Congress earlier this month. ``Currently, I am already a member of a party and therefore I cannot join another party. But I will come to Jaipur shortly and will extend my support to NBC,'' Makwana said. Denwal too had left Congress after making similar allegation. He told TOI, ``Even Kapasan seat in Chittorgarh was sold for Rs 80 lakh. They (Congress leaders) have sold most of the other seats,'' he alleged.

``See... Congress will face a crushing defeat in these seats including Dudu and Chaksu.'' He said this was a ploy of Ashok Gehlot to keep Vasundhara Raje in power. Else, there was no other reason why deserving candidates were ignored, he added. Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders denied charges. ``In elections such as these there are always some candidates who are denied tickets... And those who do not get tickets make these allegations,'' said C P Joshi, president, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.