Amid allegations of horse trading, the ruling BJP and Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday were involved in a spat over 15 councillors’ decision to leave the outfit led by Arvind Kejriwal and form their own party.

AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar alleged the BJP offered up to Rs 5 crore each to AAP councillors to break them away ahead of the mayor elections.

Accusing the BJP of using money power to acquire the required numbers to gain majority in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Kakkar said the BJP is trying to buy councillors, because it still does not have enough members to form a standing committee or a ward committee.

Countering her claim, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said it is unfortunate that the defeated and disillusioned leaders of the AAP are blaming the BJP for the major split in their municipal corporation wing.

He said that whether in the press conference announcing their departure or in their resignation letters, the councillors, who left AAP to form a separate party, have clearly stated that since the 2022 elections, AAP leaders have neither focused on running the municipal administration nor tried to coordinate with their councillors.

“In this context, it is clear that the BJP has no involvement,” he said.

The Delhi BJP President added that due to his obstinate approach, Kejriwal never allowed the formation of a Standing Committee in the Municipal Corporation and never engaged in dialogue with his councillors