CM releases clips on ‘toppling’ bid, Cong acts against 4 rebels
BENGALURU: In a dramatic move hours before presenting the state budget, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday released an audio clip of an alleged conversation in which state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief B S Yeddyurappa can be heard trying to lure a JDS MLA in order to destabilise the coalition state’s government.
Yeddyurappa said the audio clip was “fake” and that Kumaraswamy’s s t ory was “concocted”.
In sudden twists and turns, the Congress also decided to crack the whip and initiate action against four rebel MLAS under the anti-defection law after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here before the session commenced its sitting.
Briefing reporters, CLP leader Siddaramaiah said he would meet t he a s s e mbly speaker Ramesh Kumar and urge him to take action against Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumathali and B Nagendra. He said barring the four and J N Ganesh, all other lawmakers attended the CLP meet.
Two MLAS Roshan Baig and B C Patil, who also did not participate, had taken prior permission, Siddaramaiah said. Ganesh is declared absconding after an alleged brawl with a colleague lawmaker at a resort recently.
Siddaramaiah said the four MLAS had sent letters to him, saying they could not attend the entire budget session of the assembly.
Adding a new element to the political turmoil, Kumaraswamy dropped the audio bomb at a press conference, to back his claims about BJP’S alleged attempts to topple the state government.
He alleged such an attempt was being carried out with the “permission” of Prime Minister Na r e n d r a Modi a n d B J P national president Amit Shah.
“Without the knowledge of the prime minister, is it possible to do all this?” Kumaraswamy said, as he asked the PM to come clean on the issue. “Modi and Amit Shah are doing all this,” he said.
The chief minister said he would send the audio clips to the Prime Minister who, he said, claims about being “the only saviour of this country.”
“Come out with your real face,” Kumaraswamy said, pointing out at Modi.
Kumaraswamy alleged there were two audio clips which had recorded the telephonic conversation between Yeddyurappa