BJP MPs’ allegation that they were bribed in return for their support to the UPA government during the trust vote on Tuesday triggered  demands for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation.

However, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party said the incident was a “political conspiracy” and was “stage-managed”. Charges flew thick and fast as three BJP MPs displayed wads of notes in the well of the House hours before the trust vote.

As the political drama was being played out in which SP was accused of horse-trading, Congress managers felt the incident was an attempt by the BJP to malign the ruling party as they did not have the numbers to vote out the government.

Within minutes after the BJP members disclosure, Opposition leader L K Advani demanded a detailed investigation by the Lok Sabha Speaker into the allegations that three MPs were offered Rs nine crore by SP for abstaining from the trust vote.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and UP Chief Minister Mayawati demanded the resignation of the PM.

Wider strategy

Congress senior leader Ahmed Patel, who was accused by one of the BJP MPs of being involved in the deal, said his party and his name were dragged into the controversy as part of a strategy of the opposition to avoid the trust vote. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the bribery allegation was a conspiracy by the BJP and its leaders to defame his party and topple the government.

Yadav demanded immediate arrest of BJP MP Ashok Agarwal who made the allegation and an inquiry be ordered.“BJP members can go to any extent and the way they have come forward shows this. I know the nefarious designs of the BJP. They have even tried to kill me,” Yadav said.

SP general secretary Amar Singh warned that he would slap a defamation case against the BJP leaders for accusing him of being involved in the deal.

Accusing the Opposition parties of violating the decorum of the House, Congress described the entire episode as a planted operation by “those who know that they will lose in the vote of confidence”.

Meanwhile, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat claimed attempts were also made to bribe MPs of his allies by unnamed parties.