Need a Rajya Sabha seat? Perhaps some MLA may be of help if you are ready to shellout atleast Rs 50-60 lakh.
A sting operation carried out by IBN Network and Cobrapost Investigation caught on camera the conversations and several meetings with MLAs of Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who posed as middlemen soliciting votes for a Rajya Sabha candidate.
The sting uncovered the fact that the MLAs were brazenly asking for money as if it is a common practice in the elections to the Rajya Sabha.
The sting claims to have brought out the fact that elected leaders are even willing to go against the party diktat just to pursue stacks of currency notes and sell their votes.
Smippets of the conversations that IBN Network and Cobrapost reporters had with these MLAs.
Rajesh Ranjan, Congress MLA from Mahagama, met the reporters as a political middleman. Confident about what he is talking about, Ranjan sets a price tag for his vote for a Rajya Sabha candidate, whom he doesn't even know
Reporter: Why don't you quote an amount so we have idea and can draw out a budget?
Ranjan: I am willing to go against the party's diktat and against Keshav Rao, Congress-in-charge of Jharkhand. He doesn't want me to cast my second vote.
Reporter: Can he take action against you?
Ranjan: No! We are ten. Our vote cannot be cancelled; the candidate has to win with our votes. If there is any action, the candidate will lose.
Reporter: That's true
Ranjan: He cannot take action and dismiss all the 10 people.
Ranjan worked out how he could milk the situation to the maximum. Not just for himself but for his fellow legislators as well. Even planning to buy Rajendra Singh, leader of the Congress in the assembly.
Ranjan: Add Rajender Singh's name to the list
Reporter: How much will he take?
Reporter: We have a strict budget, we need to know all the names at one go
Ranjan: Add Rajender Singh to the top of the list
Ranjan: 1 crore rupees
Reporter: Is he the head of the Vidhan Sabha
Ranjan: No, no, he has 10 MLAs
Reporter: Who is he?
Ranjan: He is the leader of the Congress Legislature Party. We can take him into confidence
Reporter: So that means, with him we don't have to worry about anyone issuing a whip right?
Ranjan: No. That's why it is crucial. I have already spoken to him.
According to the tapes, Ranjan was even willing to identity all the MLAs in his flock
Ranjan: Meet Sawan Lakda, and Yogender Sao
and this is Aashish Singh... he wants to use his second preference vote with me
Reporter: You tell me what needs to be done?
Sawan Lakda: They must have spoken to you already
Reporter: Yes I have discussed with them but want a confirmation from your end
Sawan Lakda: We are all united
Reporter: I don't think there should be any problem at your end... I am asking you to do what you can easily do
Sawan Lakda: What our MLA has committed to you shall be done...I don't want to repeat
Reporter: I want your consent as well
Sawan Lakda: He committed to you after speaking to us...why do you want to start from the beginning
Reporter: No I don't want to start the negotiation all over again...but I just want your consent... I want to meet all the MLAs whose names have been agreed upon.
Ranjan: As soon as your packets of 50-50 are ready...
Reporter: Packets are ready...let me meet all the MLAs... I will get the money immediately ...the cash is separate.
Uma Shankar Akela, BJP MLA from Barhi, shot to fame in the last state elections by defeating the Congress legislature party leader Manoj Yadav by 10,000 votes. This is the transcript of what he caught on camera. He wants cash and car!
Akela: How much money are you paying if you want us to vote for your man?
Reporter: From Rs 50 lakh to 1 crore
Akela: 50?
Reporter: 50 lakh and 1 crore
Akela: Car?
Reporter: A car is not possible, only when there is major demand
Akela: So I presume, Rs 50 lakh for one man?
Reporter: If someone can get 1-2 people with him then we can consider a car or more.
Akela: The problem with you is that you don't have any JMM people with you
JMM leader Simon Marandi takes pride in fighting for the tribals of Jharkhand. The sting operation showed him as just another politician interested in lining his own pockets
Simon: Please do not equate me with other
Reporter: Okay
Simon: There are some MLAs with me
Reporter: Okay
Simon: What are you offering us?
Reporter: If you get 3-4 MLAs for me
you get paid more. I can give you Rs 1.5 crore
Marandi also checks out what is the going rate for others.
Simon: I have to meet Teklal (JMM MLA Tek Lal Mahto) on 13th
Reporter: That would be very late, I have to give a full list by then
Marandi: Who has to give?
Reporter: Hmm
Marandi: I need to speak to the person you have spoken to
you will have to give time
Reporter: I am talking to them separately and to you separately all are being dealt with
Marandi: What all has been discussed?
Reporter: He said he would do his work
but some people are asking for more money.
Marandi: What is the rate they have quoted?
Reporter: You tell me yours? I will take care of theirs
Marandi: I haven't had any chat it was all normal chitchat
Reporter: He didn't take your name
Marandi: Whatever you want
Please tell frankly... what is it that you wish to convey?
Reporter: I want them to vote for my candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections.
Marandi: hmmm
Reporter: They told me 'You give me money, I will give you vote '
and in case 'we don't vote the money will be refunded'.
Marandi: Who is talking this way?
Reporter: I am talking to some people
Marandi: How much money have you offered them?
Reporter: Rs 1 crore
Marandi: The talk is on for a crore to vote for your candidate...
Reporter: Yes
Image: Video grab shows Congress MLA Rajesh Ranjan bargaining for his fellow lawmakers
