Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Congress MLA from Vijaypur Mukesh Malhotra alleged that he was lured by the relatives of former minister Ramniwas Rawat to take Rs 5 crore and withdraw his nomination or face dire consequences. The MLA was addressing media persons on Thursday at a welcome programme organised by the party for the newly-elected assembly member in the recently-concluded bypolls.

The MLA further said, “Four-five people, including a police inspector, who is a relative of former minister Ramnivas Rawat, came in an SUV and asked me to withdraw my nomination. They were going to give me Rs 2 crore and Rs 3 crore later. But, I firmly refused.”

State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged that the party had filed more than 100 complaints to the Election Commission of India, but not even a single complaint received a response. He claimed that the BJP had tried to sabotage the Vijaypur election by using dacoits and other anti-social elements, but the voters showed their power and Congress won the election.