Dhanbad, June 13: MCC legislator Arup Chatterjee today accused the BJP of using money and muscle power to influence the Rajya Sabha election results in Jharkhand, and demanded a probe by CBI or an independent agency into the alleged horse-trading.

The Nirsa MLA, who has come under suspicion along with Pradeep Yadav and Prakash Ram of the JVM and Raj Kumar Yadav of the CPI-ML(Liberation) for alleged cross-voting, added that the ruling party had adopted unethical means to intimidate Opposition MLAs and win both the Upper House seats.

The BJP candidates, Union minister of state for minority and parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and state unit treasurer Mahesh Poddar, won the twin Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand on Saturday, prompting the Opposition to cry horse-trading. JMM candidate and Shibu Soren's youngest son Basant Soren lost the polls narrowly.

Rubbishing allegations of sabotage levelled against him, the veteran MCC leader said that everyone was free to make any comment against anyone, but it was well known fact that his party had always been fighting against the BJP.

"I can still recall the first time when efforts were being made to make Shibu Soren chief minister of Jharkhand. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of RJD boss Lalu Prasad. We had participated in the meeting and extended our support to the JMM patriarch. Later also, we had voted in favour Shibu in the Rajya Sabha elections," Chatterjee said at a news meet in Dhanbad apparently in his attempt to prove his loyalty.

"If fresh elections are held following an independent probe, we will again work to ensure Basant's win," he added.

According to him, the Opposition parties are mulling legal and other options.

"If need be, we will also approach President of India Pranab Mukherjee. We will request him to declare the Rajya Sabha polls in Jharkhand null and void, and order fresh elections," he added.

Accompanied by MCC district president Haldhar Mahto, Chatterjee claimed the fact that the BJP victory had not gone down well with common people, who were wise enough to understand the dirty politics of the ruling party.

"The Opposition had votes more than the number required to win a seat. But, the BJP's horse-trading and pressure tactics resulted in horse-trading and Basant's lose," Chatterjee, who was the proposer for the JMM candidate, said.