BJP MLA from Mahadevpura, Aravind Limbavali in Karnataka has made an explosive allegation against the present chief minister of the state, HD Kumaraswamy and has claimed that he is in possession of a video tape in which Kumaraswamy is seen demanding a Rs 25 crore bribe from aspirants of the MLC seat. He said, “when the party was deciding on MLC nomination, Kumaraswamy had demanded Rs 25 crore from one of the aspirants and we have video proof of it.” Limbavali also said that the video would be released in the Karnataka assembly. He added, “we will request the Speaker to view the video tape in his chambers. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy can also come along and explain himself. He is making false allegations against the BJP. They (JD(S)) have got mimicry artists to record this video. We have video proof.” The BJP MLA said, “he (Kumaraswamy) may remember that when MLC elections were held in 2016, he had told Vijugouda Patil that if he coughed up Rs 25 crore, Kumaraswamy would ensure he became an MLC.”
It is important to mention here that Patil has backed this claim and said, “when I was in the JD(S), I hadn’t asked Kumaraswamy to make me an MLC. But he himself told me in front of my supporters that he would make me an MLC if I paid ₹25 crore.”
Earlier, Kumaraswamy had released two audio tapes and alleged that Karnataka BJP chief attempted to poach a JD(S) MLA. He alleged that the state BJP leaders claimed to have “booked the Speaker for Rs 50 crore.” Soon after the BJP MLA claimed to have video proof of Kumaraswamy demanding bribe over the MLC nomination, the Karnataka CM tried hitting back at the BJP. He said, “I never said that Yeddyurappa was the one who spoke on the tape. I said that BJP leaders, under Yeddyurappa’s guidance were trying to poach leaders by offering them bribes. I wanted to expose Amit Shah, Narendra Modi and the way the BJP is functioning by perpetuating such actions. I exposed them because I wanted an inquiry to be launched.”
Kumaraswamy had said that the BJP was trying to poach Congress and JD (S) MLAs after releasing two audio tapes in which voiced purported to be BS Yeddyurappa and two other BJP leaders were trying to lure Gurmitkal JD(S) MLA Nagangouda Kankur’s son Sharangouda into the BJP. Meanwhile, Karnataka assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said that the voices in the audio were indiscernible and he believes that Yeddyurappa did not tell Sharangouda that the Speaker was offered Rs 50 crore. This must have turned out to be rather embarrassing for the Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy who had made a massive allegation on the basis of a flimsy audio tape having little authenticity.
As it has been already stated by the Karnataka assembly speaker that the voices in the audio tapes released by Kumaraswamy are not discernible, it is amply clear that the allegations made by Kumaraswamy have no substance. They are just a figment of imagination and a ploy to divert the people’s attention from the real issues, such as the Congress-JD(S) government’s failure to deliver on farm loan waiver in the state.