Bhopal, Mar 19: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today stoutly denied the Congress charge about his ''involvement'' in the conspiracy to offer bribe to Samajwadi Party MLA Kishor Samrite for the Rajya Sabha elections saying he never believed in such politics.

''I was not willing to give any reaction on this matter but the way in which leader of opposition Ms Jamuna Devi has been charging me for hatching the conspiracy forced me to react,'' said Chouhan told reporters at the Assembly premises.

Main opposition Congress suspected his involvement in every issue and it showed Congress was afraid of him, Chouhan said. ''The law will takes its course and the state government is ready to probe the matter through any state investigating agency'', Chouhan added.

Appropriation bill for Rs 44,498 cr approved

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 19: The state Assembly today passed the finance bill and related appropriation bill for Rs 44,498.21 crore for the fiscal 2008-09 by voice vote without debate. Amid pandemonium with Congress members shouting down ruling party members on the MLA bribing issue, Finance Minister Raghavji moved the appropriation bill and it was passed by voice vote.

Speaker Ishwardas Rohani rushed through the day's official business, including passage of the budget, in about ten minutes before the house was adjourned sine die sixteen days ahead of schedule. The house witnessed bedlam with BJP and Congress members shouting slogans against each other over reported offer of Rs 10 lakh to Samajwadi Party MLA Kishor Samrite to vote in favour of Congress-supported independent candidate Vivek Tankha in the Rajya Sabha election scheduled on March 28.

Amid heavy uproar, the Speaker called the ministers and other members to lay reports and to move resolutions to extend to tenure of different committees and extending the period to privileges committee to submit its report as also the house committee to present its report on mismanagement in Electricity Generation Company.