Amit Shah threatened MLAs to resign, says Congress in-charge in Puducherry

After losing its government in Puducherry, the Congress on Monday pinned the blame on the BJP alleging that Union Home Minister Amit Shah “threatened” the party MLAs to resign as legislators or face action by Central investigating agencies.

Dinesh Gundu Rao, in-charge for Congress affairs in Puducherry, told Deccan Herald that the BJP “toppled” the V Narayanasamy government in the Union Territory to “embarrass” the party at the fag end of its tenure. In a no holds barred attack on BJP, Rao said that the saffron party is hell-bent on “destabilising” democratically elected governments led by opposition political parties.

“The BJP has been using unethical means and taking the help of investigating agencies to topple governments. They want to destabilise governments led by opposition parties by hook or crook. They do not allow elected governments to function. First they used the L-G to disrupt the functioning of the government, and now they have bought our MLAs,” Rao said.

Read: BJP is a non-starter in Puducherry, cannot win seats: V Narayanasamy

He also alleged that the “rebellion” within the Puducherry Congress was engineered by the BJP leadership in New Delhi. Rao added that the BJP used investigating agencies like the ED and CBI to threaten the legislators to quit their posts.

“Amit Shah personally called a few MLAs and threatened them. They were threatened that cases will be filed against them if they do not listen to the BJP. Some of the legislators quit their posts out of fear and the rest due to lust for power. The BJP will go to any extent to capture power,” Rao alleged.

Read: Narayanasamy says Speaker's ruling 'incorrect'

Admitting that some of the MLAs who resigned had grievances, the former Karnataka Minister said that Rahul Gandhi did speak to all the party legislators through video-conferencing and that efforts were taken to retain them.

The Congress government in Puducherry lost its majority on the floor of the House on Monday when Narayanasamy led the party legislators in staging a walkout. Later, he resigned as Chief Minister.