Madhya Pradesh: Political row erupts over Jyotiraditya Scindia aide's 'I got sold' video

BHOPAL: A video of BJP candidate from Pohari seat and Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist Suresh Rathkheda Dhakad, allegedly telling people "I got sold for you", has gone viral three weeks ahead of bypolls.
After the footage kicked up a storm, Dhakad said his statement had been misrepresented. The video clip is said to be from October 9, when Dhakad was addressing a meeting of party workers."Madari ayega, damru bajayega... aur kahega ki Suresh Rathkheda ko vote mat dena, waa ne tumko bech dia. Main aap se kehna chahta hu, main beecha jarur, lekin main apki khatir beecha... sabke lokpriya neta Shrimant Maharaj Sahib ke saath gaya (The juggler will come, play his drum, and tell you not to vote for Suresh Rathkheda because he got sold out. I got sold, but I got sold for you, and went with our popular leader Shrimant Maharaj)," goes the video.
After it went viral, Dhakad said, "My statement was twisted and then presented. I have said that juggler will come, play his drum and say that I got sold. But I am not a person who gets sold because I am an honest worker of Maharaj ji. Yes, I have changed my party, but for development. These words were twisted and presented in another way."
My statement was twisted, says Dhakad
After it went viral, Suresh Dhakad said, “My statement was twisted and then presented. I have said that juggler will come, play his drum and say that I got sold. But I am not a person who gets sold because I am an honest worker of Maharaj ji. Yes, I have changed my party, but for development. These words were twisted and presented in another way.”
Dhakad is among 22 Scindia loyalists who quit Congress and joined the saffron camp. Fourteen of them were made ministers, Dhakad among them. Congress has been campaigning against these leaders, accusing them of selling off people’s mandate.
Congress spokesperson K K Mishra said, “Truth often comes out. At least one person came out with the truth and has admitted it publicly. They have sold voters, and this was one of our issues with which we are going to the people.”
BJP state spokesperson Rajnish Agarwal said the party goes by Dhakad’s explanation. “It is simply a non-issue. It was just a way of speaking. Every Individual has its own style of saying or expressing things. The party takes it like that. Moreover, he has clarified and made clear what he meant to say,” he remarked.