Bhopal, Mar 19: Internal dissension within the State Samajwadi Party came to fore after party legislator Kishor Samrite alleged that he had been offered Rs 10 lakh bribe to vote in favour of Congress-supported independent candidate Vivek Tankha for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha.

''SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav has issued a whip to cast vote in favour of Tankha and disciplinary action will be initiated against those violating it. Such members could face expulsion,'' state SP President Narayan Tripathi told reporters at the Vidhan Sabha pressroom here today.

Raising question on the integrity of Samrite, Tripathi alleged that he had joined hands with the BJP.

''Mr Samrite went downstairs to collect money and returned to his room. Meanwhile, when he sensed something fishy, he called media,'' he said, adding that the statements of Samrite gave rise to several suspicions.

The SP leader dubbed the bribery episode as a conspiracy by the ruling BJP and demanded CBI inquiry into the matter. He said the Congress has not offered bribe to Samrite because all party legislators were bound to vote for Tankha as per the party whip.

Meanwhile, Samrite remained adamant on his statement that former Congress minister NP Prajapati provided him Rs 10 lakh bribe and he offered to pay the rest amount later. ''The whip referred to by Tripathi is not really a whip, which is issued on the authorised letter of the party. A meeting of party legislators is called before issuing the whip but it has not happened,'' said Samrite.

He said he was making efforts that all SP legislators maintained equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress. He would hold discussion with party leaders in this regard soon. On whether he exercise his franchise during the Rajya Sabha election, Samrite replied that he would take a decision in this regard before election date on March 28.

SP MLA lodges complaint with police, EC

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 19: SP legislator Kishor Samrite today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission in connection with being offered Rs 10 lakh bribe to vote in favour Congress-supported independent candidate Vivek Tankha for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha.

After making the sensational revelation here last night, Samrite had lodged a complaint with police. A senior police official said Rs 10 lakh had been seized and the matter has been taken for investigation. However, it was not disclosed who would conduct the inquiry and when the process would begin.

In his complaint to police, Samrite claimed that he had discussion with Congress MLA Rajendra Singh over telephone. Later, former minister N Prajapati reached his residence at MLA rest house with the money. The complaint mentioned the name of Opposition Leader Jamuna Devi and Tankha.

In his complaint the EC, Samrite alleged that he was offered Rs 25 lakh bribe to vote in favour of Tankha. He informed about the matter to Inspector General of Police (CBI) but was denied help. So, he later informed Bhopal Superintendent of Police Jaideep Prasad and media. He demanded inquiry into the matter so that horse-trading in politics could be stopped.

Meanwhile, Tankha said he would lodge a complaint with the EC in this regard. Samrite had a criminal background and harboured ill-feeling towards him because he did not withdraw a case registered against him when he was state Advocate General in 2003. He alleged that the bribery episode was politically motivated aimed at affecting his poll prospects. He would not leave a stone unturned to bring out truth in the matter.