Congress left red-faced as its MLA says audio clip ‘fake’
In a FB post, Shivaram Hebbar said his wife did not receive any call offering money and ministerial berth to him for cross-voting
In a development that could leave the Congress red-faced in Karnataka, its MLA Shivaram Hebbar on Monday dismissed as “fake” an audio clip released by the party to allege that the BJP offered money and ministerial berth to him for cross-voting during the floor test in the Assembly.
The Congress had released three audio tapes in run up to the floor test, claiming that the BJP leaders were trying to ‘poach’ on the party MLAs by offering ‘blandishments’ so that the BS Yeddyurappa government is saved.
One of the audio tapes released by the party allegedly had conversation between Hebbar’s wife and BJP leaders, who allegedly offered money and ministerial post to woo him to vote for the BJP.
However, in a Facebook post in Kannada, Hebbar on Monday questioned the authenticity of the audio clip, saying his wife did not receive any such call.
“This is not my wife’s voice and she has not received any such calls. The audio tape is fake. I condemn it,” he wrote.
The Karnataka polls threw up a hung Assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, but eight short of majority. Governor Vajubhai Vala invited the BJP to form the government and Yeddyurappa was sworn in as chief minister.
In the audio tape in question, BS Yeddyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra and his close associate BJ Puttuswamy are heard speaking purportedly to Hebbar’s wife, offering money and ministerial position to her husband if he cross-voted in favour of the BJP during the floor test.
No resentment within Congress: CM‐designate
Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate HD Kumaraswamy on Monday refuted the reports of resentment within the Congress party over its alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S), while calling it bogus and fake.
"Who told you? This is all bogus and fake news. This is not true," Kumaraswamy told ANI.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy said that the party is happy being in an alliance with the JD(S).
Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "We are 100 percent happy. There is give and take policy is there, even in Bengaluru's Municipal Corporation alliance is functioning smoothly for 3 years."