BJP hatching conspiracy to kill Kharge and family: Congress

New Delhi: With four days to go for the battle royale, the political atmosphere in Karnataka heated up with allegations of death threats. The Congress on Saturday claimed that the BJP was planning to assassinate party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his family. Backing its claim, the Congress played an audio clip at a press briefing in Bengaluru, alleging that the BJP candidate from Chittapur Manikanta Rathod used abusive language for Mr Kharge and can be heard talking about eliminating him and his family.

Responding to the Congress' allegation, the state chief minister Basavaraj Bommai made it clear that "an investigation will be conducted to ensure the authenticity of the audio recording." Mr Bommai said that a case will be filed to find out the truth.

Addressing a press conference, general secretary incharge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "I am going to play for you an audio recording of an assassination plot to wipe out none less than the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, his wife and his entire family as being hatched by the BJP leaders. There can be nothing more serious than that."

Mr Surjewala added that "the assassination plots have entered the electoral discourse of Karnataka and this is the lowest political discourse anyone can stoop to".

"Intimidated by the all-round blessings of Kannadigas being showered on the Congress party and facing a complete rout in the ensuing Karnataka elections, the BJP leaders are now hatching a plot to murder Mr Kharge as well as his family members. I know the Prime Minister will remain mute, as will the Karnataka police and the Election Commission. But the people of Karnataka will not remain mute and will give a befitting reply," Mr Surjewala added.

Reacting to the Congress' allegation, the Karnataka chief minister said an investigation will be conducted to find out the authenticity of the purported audio recording regarding the alleged plot to kill the Congress president and his family. Mr Bommai said, "I do not know about the audio clip. That will be investigated. We will take it seriously and get it investigated."

Meanwhile, Mr Rathod rejected the Congress charges. He said that he had no intention of harming Mr Kharge or his family and that he was confident of winning the election. He added: "It is all a lie. They are playing some fake audio. The Congress is levelling baseless allegations, fearing defeat."

Mr Rathod, 48, has around 40 criminal cases registered against him in several districts of Karnataka, including Kalaburagi. He was last arrested in November of last year for threatening Mr Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge, with murder. In a press conference, Mr Rathod had expressed his readiness to shoot the Congress chief's son. He was, however, later released on bail.