Bengaluru: Another audiogate embarrasses coalition

Bengaluru: In a major embarrassment to coalition government, an audio conversation between a close confidant of Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar and a Congress worker about sitting Tumakuru MP S.P. Muddahanumegowda and ex-MLA of Madhugiri, Mr K.N. Rajanna reportedly taking Rs 3.5 crore each to withdraw their nomination papers for the Tumakuru seat, has gone viral.

The conversation between Mr Darshan, who is considered close to  Dr Parameshwar and the Congress worker lasts about seven minutes and mentions Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda's plan to replace Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy with Dr Parameshwar and make PWD Minister H.D. Revanna Deputy CM in case the former PM wins the prestigious Tumakuru seat.

The conversation also refers to a move to give complete rest to Mr Kumaraswamy who had become CM for the second time last year.

Mr Muddahanumegowda had created ripples when the Congress party decided to leave the Tumakuru seat to the JD(S) supremo and had threatened to contest from Tumakuru as an independent candidate. Even Mr Rajanna had opposed the ‘para-dropping’ of Mr Deve Gowda on Tumakuru at the cost of Mr Muddahanumegowda who had romped home in 2014 despite the strong Modi wave across the nation. Finally, both of them gave in to the party diktat and withdrew their nomination papers after Congress President Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka,  K.C. Venugopal intervened.

Mr Darshan reportedly says that after accepting the first instalment of Rs 3.5 crore each, both Mr Muddahanumegowda and Mr Rajanna failed to campaign for Mr Deve Gowda in Tumakuru. He also says that more money would be given to both if the JD(S) candidate, Mr Deve Gowda wins from Tumakuru.

However, since the duo did not actively campaign for Mr Gowda, the entire responsibility fell on Dr Parameshwar who worked day and night for the coalition candidate. Mr Gowda.  The conversation refers to this and says that recognising his effort, Mr Gowda is planning to make Dr Parameshwar CM and Mr Revanna Deputy CM and also gain credit for making a Dalit the CM of Karnataka for the first time.

Mr Darshan goes to extent of alleging that Mr Muddahanumegowda had sold himself for just Rs 3.5 crore and kept quiet. The MP got over 170 government officers transferred and also received commission, he says in the audio tape.

If Mr Deve Gowda loses in Tumakuru, Mr Rajanna would be suspended from the party and Mr Muddahanumegowda would be targeted, he says.

Mr Darshan also remarks that while Mr Kumaraswamy is an 'opportunist', Mr Deve Gowda is a 'socialist'. The JD(S) is not bothered if it loses Mandya where Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, is the JD(S) candidate but does not want its patriach to lose in Tumakuru, he says in the tape.