Cong asks SC to take BSY’S tape on record

A TAPE OF YEDIYURAPPA PURPORTEDLY EXPRESSING ANGUISH AGAINST LEADERS OVER OPPOSITION TO TICKETS TO THE DISQUALIFIED MLAS FOR THE BYPOLLS HAS GONE VIRAL

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Congress on Monday requested the Supreme Court, hearing the 17 MLAS’ disqualification case, to take on record a fresh audio clip in which chief minister B S Yediyurappa is purportedly hitting out at his party leaders for not recognising the “sacrifice” of the disqualified Congress-janata Dal (Secular) MLAS, because of whom the Bharatiya Janata Party could come to power.

A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana said it will consult Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi for constituting the bench on Tuesday to consider the fresh material given by the Karnataka Congress.

An audio clip of Yediyurappa purportedly expressing anguish against leaders at a recent party meeting in Hubballi over their opposition to giving tickets to the disqualified Congress-jd(s) MLAS for the December 5 Assembly bypolls in 15 constituencies had surfaced last Friday.

In the audio, he is purportedly saying that the rebel Congress JD(S) MLAS, who were later disqualified, were kept in Mumabi during the final days of the coalition under BJP national president Amit Shah’s watch.

Bypolls to 15 out of 17 seats represented by disqualified MLAS, whose resignation and absence from trust vote lead to the fall of Congress-jd(s) coalition government and made way for BJP to come to power, will be held on December 5.

Amid opposition from local party leaders in these 15 constituencies, Yediyurappa had recently assured that tickets would be given to the disqualified MLAS if they wished to contest for BJP and had appointed party contenders for the tickets there as heads of boards and corporations.

Stating that it was a different matter whether the BJP wins or loses an election, he says the disqualified MLAS have given the party an opportunity to come to power by resigning and have moved the SC with a plea that their resignations be accepted.