New Delhi:
Amid reported attempts by the BJP to form a government in Delhi, the Congress is keeping a hawk-eyed vigil on its eight legislators.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party, has alleged that the BJP is trying to get six Congress lawmakers to switch teams, an allegation for which he has been issued a one crore rupee defamation notice by the BJP.
Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed laughed off the intense focus on the party's MLAs, especially after reports that many of them have expressed dissatisfaction with the party's Delhi unit.
"It is interesting that Kejriwal and BJP suddenly seem to be looking after the interests of the Congress in Delhi. I've met and spoken to all the MLAs and no one is defecting," Mr Ahmed said.
NDTV spoke to three of these MLAs.
Among them is Jai Kishen, who has rubbished reports that he was in talks with rival party leaders. He had claimed earlier that he was approached in January and also assured a "good post."
"I am a loyal worker of the Congress and not a novice. I've won five times. I was, am and will continue to be a Congress worker. Arvind kejriwal is a liar," he said angrily.
Another Congress MLA, Prahlad Singh Sahni, said, "No one has approached me, I'm not going anywhere. None of the eight will leave Congress."
In his tweets, Mr Kejriwal has alleged that "six Congress MLAs are not ready" yet and the BJP assesses they would be easier to break after it takes power.
Congress legislator Devendra Yadav said, "All this has started because of a third party's allegations but lies have no feet to stand on. We are old Congress hands and are not going to go anywhere. No one has approached us. Kejriwal's politics is built on a foundation of lies. Today is no different."
The BJP has 29 MLAs along with its ally, Akali Dal, in a house of 67. The party needs the support of five more MLAs to form government. Its Delhi leaders are reportedly waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide.