Raipur: Apparently trying to build bridges with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its former MP from Chhattisgarh P R Khunte, whose name figured in cash-for-MLA controversy, today (Dec 8, 2003) said former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi was serious in his move to split BJP and stall its Government in the State after the Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference at a hotel, Khunte, who defected to Congress just before the elections, said, "Jogi never wanted a BJP Government here and he had told me that he has already had discussions with BJP MLAs Baliram Kashyap and Virender Pandey to form a Government headed by Kashyap."

Khunte, the MP from Bastar region, claimed Jogi had told him that he had "the blessings of Congress president Sonia Gandhi" for the move and if Pandey wanted he could arrange talks between him and the Congress chief.

He said it was Pandey who called him up to say that they could rely on Jogi on formation of a Government headed by Kashyap.

Khunte said the entire plan got leaked and that was why his name was dragged into the controversy with the allegation that he had initiated the move.

He said he had not heard the tapes played by Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley at a press conference nor was he aware of any money having changed hands in connection with the alleged move to thwart a BJP Government after the elections.

He said he had been a "disciplined soldier" of BJP for 24 years and joined Congress out of "fear of application of POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) against me".

PTI