Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ruled out any enquiry into the recent sting operation conducted by two national TV channels on some Independent MlAs allegedly discussing about money and constituency funds in lieu of votes. He said in Mysuru on Sunday that his Government had no plans to hold any inquiry as MlAs in question had claimed their innocence and refuted the charges made in the sting. He expressed confidence that the party’s third candidate KC Rama Murthy would get elected with the help of 33 excess votes of the Congress and five associate members of the party along with some independents who had identified with the Congress.
He hit back at former Prime Minister and JDs supremo HD Deve Gowda’s charge that the Congress was behind the sting operation to destroy the JDs party. Chief Minister rejected the accusations and said his party was caught up in the internal rift. He refuted the allegations that congress was luring the disgruntled JDS MlAs.
“JDS national president, Deve Gowda’s charge that Congress was behind this operation is baseless and irresponsible. In my political life, I have never indulged in tasks like getting people to cross over from other parties or holding out enticements to them, nor will I ever resort to such tactics. These things are often conducted by Deve Gowda and his family members,” he stated.
“If there are differences between HD Kumaraswamy and JDS leaders, Zameer Ahmed and Chaluvarayaswamy, in what way can I be blamedIJ I have nothing to do in this matter,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, returning officer for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka will submit to the Election Commission a report along with an unedited copy of the sting operation that purportedly showed MlAs negotiating money deal in exchange of their votes. Karnataka legislative Assembly secretary S Murthy who is also the returning officer, has said he would send a report along with the unedited copies of the footage to the EC.
June 11th Rajya Sabha election is crucial for the ruling Congress in Karnataka which is hoping to win three seats out of four to help party maintain its tally in Rajya Sabha. In number games, the ruling party has numbers in legislative assembly for two seats but could manage third one if the party gets the support of the nine independents and other smaller parties.
According to Assembly secretariat the number of votes required to win is 45 in the 225 member Karnataka Assembly (with no vote to the nominated Anglo-Indian member). The ruling party has the strength of 123 MlAs (excluding Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa), while the Bharatiya Janata Party has 44 and the Janata Dal (Secular) has the strength of 40 MlAs. The ruling party can easily ensure victory of two candidates, and will be left with surplus 33 votes. It will be short of 12 votes to get the third seat. The Congress is banking on cross voting from disgruntled JDs MlAs to snatch the third seat. As JDs is facing internal rebellion, feuds, the Congress will certainty try to lure the disgruntled JDs MlAs to get 12 as part of its strategy.
It is crucial for the Congress to win third seat and the party might also look at Independents (9) and members of the Badavara Shramikara Raithara Congress Party (3 MlAs), Karnataka Janata Paskha (2), and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha and Karnataka Makkala Paksha (one MlA each) to lend their support.