Judeo was never a chief ministerial candidate: Minister

Union Minister of State for Home ID Swami has also said the video cassette showing the bribery footage was doctored for political gains.

Union Minister of State for Home ID Swami on Thursday said BJP had never projected former minister of state for forest and environment Dilip Singh Judeo as Chhattisgarh chief ministerial candidate and the video cassette showing the bribery footage was doctored for political gains.

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"He (Judeo) was never projected as the chief ministerial candidate," Swami retorted when he was asked whether Judeo was still the party's choice for the post.

"But Judeo will continue to campaign for the party in the ensuing assembly elections," he said and alleged that the bribery allegations were doctored to hatch a conspiracy before the assembly polls.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to immediately accept Judeo's resignation and his ordering CBI probe into the episode, though merely based on allegations, showed the party's belief in value-based politics, Swami said.

Asked to comment on former BJP president Bangaru Laxman's recent statement 'don't do a Bangaru Laxman to Dilip Singh Judeo', he said, "We never act in haste ... That is why we have asked for an inquiry."

On Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's recent proposal for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls, he said such a proposal had also come from other leaders and needed legislation.