Amidst speculation that the BJP was planning to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition in the state, things took an unexpected turn when Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy revealed a tape of a phone call, allegedly between BJP Karnataka chief Yeddyurappa and Gurmitkal MLA Nagangouda’s son Sharan Gouda. Kumaraswamy said that Yeddyurappa had offered bribes to the JD(S) MLA’s son in an attempt to topple the Karnataka government.
Yeddyurappa meanwhile, has denied all allegations and said that the tape is fake. Calling Kumaraswamy a master in producing fake audio, Yeddyurappa said that if the Chief Minister can prove the authenticity of the tape, he will resign, and would quit politics altogether.
This happened ahead of the Karnataka budget session which was supposed to take place on Friday.
Sharan Gouda, who also spoke to the media after Kumaraswamy, revealed that he had received a call late last night. The man on the other side, allegedly Yeddyurappa, asked Sharan Gouda to come to Devdurg. “Hassan MLA Pritam Gowda and Devdurga MLA were there. They took me inside. They told me "Everything has been okayed. Some 11 people from Cong and JD(S) are coming." They told me they'll give Rs 20 crore, they said we'll give ministerial post to you. Vijayendra will manage everything, they said. They claimed they've 'booked' the Speaker for Rs 50 crore,” he said.
“My intention is not to trap anyone. My intention is -- I'm a third-generation supporter of the Deve Gowda family. It is because of Deve Gowda family and people of Gurmitkal,” Sharan Gouda added.