Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 5: Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaih, dismissed the allegation that he was instrumental in an covert operation which allegedly found that votes were on sale in Karnataka for Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections.

"JDS national president, Deve Gowda's charge that Congress was behind this operation is baseless and irresponsible. In my political life, I have never indulged in tasks like getting people to cross over from other parties or holding out enticements to them, nor will I ever resort to such tactics. These things are often conducted by Deve Gowda and his family members," he stated.

Siddaramaiah said that JDS is a dying party that is slowly moving towards extinction. Therefore, he felt there was no need for anyone to do anything in this direction. He wanted to question JDS leaders how could he be held responsible if internal squabbles occur within that party. "If there are differences between H D Kumaraswamy and JDS leaders, Zameer Ahmed and Chaluvarayaswamy, in what way can I be blamed? I have nothing to do in this matter," he asserted.

He felt that during every election, people who are in the fray keep seeking support from voters. He said the candidates from his party are in order in seeking votes from independents and members of other political parties,adding that voting for him is left to the choice and discretion of the concerned.

Congress leadership unhappy over fielding third candidate

Bengaluru, Jun 5: It is said that the state unit of Congress has earned the ire of the central leadership because of its decision to field retired police officer, K C Ramamurthy, as the third candidate. Because, as per the list officially released by All India Congress Committee on May 28, only the names of Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh were mentioned. The name of Ramamurthy had never been mentioned, and during the talks the state leaders with the high command, it was decided to field Ramamurthy as an independent candidate with Congress support.

The senior party leaders are particularly sensitive to the issue because of the infamous sting operation transmitted by some private television channels. After JDS leaders complained to the central election commission, duly pointing fingers at Congress, state Congress affairs in-charge, Digvijay Singh, is learnt to have expressed his resentment over the third candidate to some state leaders. Singh has held consultation with legal experts besides keeping in touch with state leaders. An opinion which has emerged among top Congress leaders was that there would not have been any controversy had the party fielded only two candidates for Rajya Sabha election.