MUMBAI, Nov 8: Madhavrao Scindia, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was a "total fraud" and has committed the "gravest error" of forming an government in Uttar Pradesh by bribing legislators of the breakaway Congress and other parties. "The Lucknow episode was described by him as shameless and most shocking and had served to expose the BJP's political crime.

Scindia, on a two-day tour in Maharashtra, told reporters that the BJP's act was not only anti-democratic but also dangerous for the polity of entire country. "The Lucknow episode also symbolises political bankruptcy of the BJP," he remarked.

Scindia alleged that the BJP, which had engineered defection in UP, was now involved in rumour mongering about a possible split in the Congress with a sole intention of diverting public attention. "The Congress party is united and there is no question of a defection or split," he added.

"Similarly, there was no question of the BJP forming the government at the centre at this juncture," he said, adding that though it had succeeded in making short term gains, this would boomerang in the long term.

Scindia ruled out a repetition of the UP episode either in Gujarat or at the centre. "However, it is good riddance for us if some weak Congressmen have defected in UP," he said. He also ruled out the possibility of mid term polls.

Scindia warned that the Congress could also topple the Bhairaonsingh Shekhawat government in Rajasthan. "However, the party will not go for such unprincipled tactics for short term gains and will stage a comeback in the next elections by approaching voters," he added.

Scindia, who is in charge of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Orissa, disclosed that he was approached by at least 10 BJP legislators during the recently held Rajya Sabha elections there. He, however, did not entertain them, he added.

Scindia asked the BJP to take care of its government in Rajasthan instead of resorting to rumour mongering. He said he was shocked that the Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Varma had deployed detectives to keep a vigil on the activities of his predecessor, Madan Lal Khurana.

On the Congress party's state of affairs in Maharashtra, Scindia said the party organisation was in good shape and had bright prospects to stage a comeback in the next elections. "There will be no defection in the Congress in Maharashtra as the state leadership has already initiated efforts to reach out voters and take up various issues," he added.

"It is a good thing that people in Maharashtra are still Congress-minded," he added. Scindia, who held talks with Congress Working Committee member Sharad Pawar on Friday evening, lauded the state Congress president Ranjit Deshmukh's move to set up a coordination committee comprising leaders from various regions and communities. "Factionalism is not a deterrent factor in Maharashtra. However, what is needed is an united effort," he added.

Scindia said he would tour in the sugarcane-rich areas of Satara and Kolhapur in early December and address party meetings in Jalgaon in the end of December. He added that AICC president Sitaram Kesri may visit Maharashtra in early January.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.