IndiaPost.com - BJP keeps legal option in abeyance in 'cash for vote'

NEW DELHI: The BJP seems wary of taking the legal recourse to bring the "guilty" to book in the 'cash for vote' episode and is likely to exhaust parliamentary and political options before knocking on the courts of law.

Though the BJP has time and again hinted that it may file a criminal case against those who "have tried fabrication and forgery" to help the UPA government win the July 22 vote of confidence, it may be the last resort for the party.

"We are fighting this battle at the political level. If that stage (of filing a criminal case) comes we will see. We are keeping all the options open," BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters. BJP leaders feel that the matter may go out of their hands once the government is involved.

"What if an FIR is lodged and the investigation is concluded summarily?" said one of them. The demand for a CBI inquiry has not been made for the same reasons. However, some BJP leaders also feel that not availing the legal option would result in the case dying down with the tenure of this Lok Sabha.

They point to cases of anti-defection which lingered on endlessly. Fighting the battle in the political arena also helps the BJP reap dividends on the electoral battlefield. Jaitley compared the 'cash for vote' episode with the infamous JMM bribery case which took place during the Narsimha Rao government.

"Though I consider the JMM judgement wrong, it is clear that the case does not leave the bribe-giver," Jaitley said. He pointed out that in the 'cash for vote' scam, the crime -- of giving inducements to the MPs to vote against their party -- was committed outside the Parliament, thus depriving the accused of any Parliamentary privilege.