Karnataka: Four Audio Leaks Expose Practice Of Horse Trading, BJP Denies Claims
The drama in Karnataka has finally ended with B.S. Yeddyurappa resigning from Chief Minister’s post in an emotional speech delivered at a special session, called to prove the majority. This has paved way for a JD(S)-Congress combined government with H D Kumaraswamy as its Chief Minister.
Congress earlier declared unconditional support to JD(S) after the Karnataka results which led to hung assembly. On Tuesday, Congress protested Karnataka governor’s move to invite the BJP to form a government, additionally granting them 15 days to prove majority. Further, they approached the Supreme Court pleading a stay on the swearing-in ceremony of B.S.Yeddyurappa as the new Chief Minister. While the apex court rejected Congress’s plea in a late-night hearing, it asked BJP to prove their majority at 4 PM, this Saturday, quashing the 15-day deadline.
Read All You Need To Know About Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018
FIRST AUDIO CLIP LEAK BY CONGRESS
On Thursday, Congress accused BJP of indulging in horse-trading and then released an audio recording of a call between mining baron Janardhana Reddy and Basangouda Daddal, Congress MLA and a former minister in BJP government. In the recording, Reddy is heard trying to lure Daddal towards BJP by saying, “I’ll arrange a meeting with the National President. You’ll become a minister. You’ll make 100 times the wealth you made so far”. Although BJP denied the accusation of horse trading and called the clip fake and work of “Congress’ dirty tricks department”.
SECOND AUDIO CLIP
The second clip released by the Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa is between BS Yeddyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra and wife of Congress MLA Shivaram Hebbar. In this audio, Vijayendra is asking the MLA’s wife to convince her husband to change sides during the floor test. Allegedly, in exchange, he is offering 15 crores of cash or a ministerial position in the cabinet along with five crores in cash.
TWO MORE AUDIO RECORDINGS RELEASED HOURS BEFORE FLOOR TEST
Congress further released two audio recordings a day before the floor test. In the first audio clip, CM Yeddyurappa himself is heard talking to Congress MLA BC Patil who was getting on a bus to Hyderabad with other MLAs. In the conversation, Yeddyurappa asks Patil to disembark the bus making any excuse and come back to Chennai to join hands with BJP. He assures Patil of Ministry and a secure future with the BJP.
The second recording is a call between Patil with the BJP National leader, Muralidhar Rao and former minister B. Sriramulu. This call seems to have taken place after Yeddyurappa’s call. When Patil asks about money, Sriramulu assures Patil 25 crores and 15 crores each for other MLAs that comes with him. He also promises ministerial posts to all of them. In this clip, Muralidhar Rao also seems to indicate that this was not the first instance of such activity and this may have happened previously in other states.
Originally published at The Logical Indian.
