YEDDYURAPPA LURING JD-S MLA, SAYS HDK

Releasing a purported audio tape, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday accused BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa of luring a legislator of his ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).

Yeddyurappa, however, vehemently denied the charge and termed the audio tape fake as its voice was not his.

Quoting Sharanagouda, son of JD-S Gurmitkal legislator Naganagouda Kandakur, Kumaraswamy told reporters here that Yeddyurappa had called the former and asked him to go to Devadurga from Yadgir, which is in the state's northwest region, about 500 km from Bengaluru.

"Yeddyurappa asked me to leave for Mumbai where his son (B.Y. Vijayendra) was present and would make payment to me. But I told him (Yeddyurappa) that I would consult my father (Kandakur) and get back to him," Sharanagouda, who was also present with the Chief Minister, told the media.

Playing the audio tape, Sharanagouda said in Kumaraswamy's presence that Yeddyurappa told him that he had booked the state legislative Assembly Speaker (K.R. Ramesh Kumar) by paying him Rs 50 crore.

"Yeddyurappa told me that he had also booked the legislative Assembly Speaker himself by paying him Rs 50 crore," he said.

Sharanagouda said JD-S Hassan MLA Preetham Gowda and Devadurga MLA Shivanagouda Naik were also present with him when Yeddyurappa called on him.

"Yeddyurappa also offered me a plum ministerial portfolio if I could convince my father (Kandakur) to switch over to the BJP. 'Do not worry, BJP National President Amit Shah has even booked Supreme Court judges'," added Sharangouda, quoting Yeddyurappa again.