Published 16:13 IST, November 2nd 2019
Congress releases tape alleging Yediyurappa’s confession on Op Kamala
Congress has released a tape alleging that Karnataka CM and BJP chief BS Yediyurappa is confessing about Operation Kamala
Almost three months after the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition Government of Karnataka lost the trust vote in the Vidhan Soudha, Congress has released a tape alleging that Karnataka CM and BJP chief BS Yediyurappa is confessing about Operation Kamala. Taking to Twitter, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged that BJP led the ''immoral defection of Congress MLA". He claimed that the tape is a proof that BJP President Amit Shah took care of the defected MLA for 2.5 months. This comes ahead of by-polls to 15 out of 17 seats represented by the 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.
The tape released by Congress
In the tape released by Congress, a voice allegedly of Yeddyurappa’s can be heard saying: "The manner in which you speak, it doesn't seem that you are interested in saving the government. I hope all of you here are aware of the fact that the decision on all of those 17 rebel legislators was not taken by Yeddyurappa but by our national president who ensured that they are kept in Mumbai for two and a half months. For two and a half months, none of them went to their constituencies or even met with their families. I hope you are aware of this. Whether we will win or lose these elections is a different matter. We will try to win all of them. In such a serious situation, those who were responsible for ensuring that we do not sit in the opposition for three and a half years and form the government are not being treated properly by you. We should stand by them come what may because they have resigned as legislators and have even gone to the supreme court saying their resignations should be accepted. So many of you have given lectures, have tried to give advice but think of what you would do if you are in the position. I don't know what is the opinion of ministers and our central leaders that will be discussed later. I am sure whatever it is, your speaking will become news outside and you will ensure that."
Karnataka Floor test
After days of suspense and reports of internal tussle within the Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the erstwhile Karnataka Government, the coalition finally lost the trust vote in the floor test on July 23. The Kumaraswamy-led Cong-JD(S) coalition government fell 14 months after it came to power. In the Karnataka Assembly elections of 2018, Congress which won 78 seats sealed a deal with JD(S) which had bagged 37 seats, against BJP which emerged as a single largest party with 104 seats. Before the floor test, 15 rebel MLAs had quit from the Assembly in June.
Updated 18:10 IST, November 2nd 2019