A video allegedly showing Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa admitting to carrying out Operation Kamala in the state on the instructions of BJP's national leaders has emerged.
In the video, which was reportedly shot during the BJP core committee meeting in Hubballi recently, the man alleged to be Yediyurappa is addressing a gathering, reportedly of BJP's MLAs. The video is recorded by one of the members at the meeting, and while the audio is captured, one cannot see Yediyurappa in the video.
The voice, allegedly of Yediyurappa’s, can be heard saying: "Don't you know that Yediyurappa took the decision for 17 MLAs? The national leaders knew and they (rebel MLAs) were kept in Mumbai for 2 months. For three months, they didn't go to their constituency or even see their wives or children. You know that they were there. Whether we win or lose, it is a different issue. We gave it a shot.”
The voice is also heard defending the rebel MLAs whose resignations paved the way for the BJP to form the government in the state.
"But at a serious time like this, in spite of knowing that that they (rebel MLAs) got us to form the government by resigning and going to the Supreme Court, you never said that you will stand by them come what may. Imagine you were in their spot? What would you do?", the same voice, said to be addressing BJP MLAs, can be heard saying.
Yediyurappa caught yet again!
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) November 1, 2019
In Hubli, Yeddy accepts Operation Kamala on 17 MLAs, says Shah was involved fully in the plan & arranging MLAs stay in Mumbai
He also says on Nov 4th, he is 99% sure of SC verdict going in their favor
Request SC to take cognisance of this tape pic.twitter.com/ZOkz7KzvSI
The video appears to indicate that members of the BJP are unhappy with the rebel MLAs and are unwilling to support them in the upcoming bye-elections. It was posted on social media by Srivatsa, who is in-charge of the Youth Congress.
This comes at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing the pleas of the rebel MLAs who were disqualified by then Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in July. The video comes a month prior to the crucial bye-elections in Karnataka, set to take place on December 5.
In an audio clip released earlier this year in February, JD(S) leader Sharanagouda Kandakur alleged that Yediyurappa approached him to shift loyalties from the JD(S) to the BJP and offered money and plum positions for it.
The BJP has maintained that the party had nothing to do with the resignations of MLAs from the Congress and JD(S). A BJP spokesperson declined to comment on the video released on Friday.