Top Delhi BJP leaders level corruption charges against each other

The infighting within the Delhi BJP has come out wide open as the party prepares for crucial by-elections and later the general municipal elections to the three civic bodies. The feud that erupted over renewal of contract for garbage lifting in north Delhi areas has aggravated to the extent that the Mayor and a Leader of House in North Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) have been trading corruption charges against each other.

While Mayor Ravinder Gupta has accused Leader of House Yogendra Chandolia of 'benefitting' private contractors, the latter has shot back alleging that the Mayor has been collecting 'donations' in the name of party fund.

The two office-bearers have written separate letters to Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay leveling corruption charges against each other and thus causing a dent to the party's image.

Reaping the benefit of the situation, both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have been raking up the issue of corruption in MCDs.

The AAP has even complained to the anti-corruption branch of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, seeking a probe into the matter.

The matter pertains to renewing the contract for garbage collection at the rate of Rs 1,300 per metric tonne. The Mayor, however, has been maintaining that the same can be done at a meagre Rs 475 per metric tonne.

Mayor Gupta, in his letter to Upadhyay, alleged that Chandolia, currently the Leader of the House and a former Mayor, tried to build undue pressure for awarding contract for garbage lifting at a higher price when the same could be done at a much lower price.

"When I opposed the move, I was told that the decision was taken as per the directions of the party," he said.

He also alleged that Chandolia, and Standing Committee Chairman Mohan Bhardwaj were trying to award a contract for projects worth Rs 10,000 crore to NBCC even as other PSUs were ready to execute the same at a lower cost.

The Mayor also sought to know if the party leadership had issued any instruction regarding renewal of the contract and if yes, what was he not informed about it.

At the same time, he mentioned that while the matter still hangs in the air and no concrete decision been passed by the party, he demanded action against the people trying to defame the party and being indisciplined in their conduct.

Gupta also sought permission from the party permission to come out in public in his defense if no action is taken in time and allow him file a defamation suit against Yogendra Chandolia.

Chandolia, on the other hand, accused Gupta of indulging in corrupt practices by collecting funds in the name of party and thus, tarnishing the image.

He told MAIL TODAY that during his tenure of holding major positions in the MCD, he was never asked to collect money by the party and alleged that even the party president had warned Gupta about this.

"Mayor is trying to hide his corrupt practices under the garb of writing a letter to the Party president and accusing me of bringing a bad name to the party by passing the agenda of garbage lifting at a higher price. The incident of March 10 has exposed him."

Chandolia had also written the letter to Satish Upadhyay narrating how the house was stopped for passing the agenda even when the Mayor has no powers and sought answers over the alleged collection made by Gupta in the name of party fund.

Reacting to it, Gupta accused Chandolia of harming the reputation of the party by issuing statements against him in the media and clarified that the allegations against him of collecting money from the councilors in the name of the party fund were false.

He also accused him of not letting him work with complete honesty and efforts were being made to defame him.

"I will resign from my post if it is proved that I have indulged in the corrupt activities," said Gupta.