From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 14: JD(S) leader and former Minister H D Revanna has challenged the party rebels to take the ‘truth test’ in front of Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala or goddess Chamundeshwari in Mysuru to prove their allegations regarding his taking bribe in the Legislative Council and Rajya Saba elections.

Stoutly denying all the allegations made by JD(S) rebels, including N Cheluvarayaswam and H C Balakrishna, the elder son of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said he had not taken bribe from candidates who had contested council and Rajya Sabha polls with the support of the JD(S). 

“I have not even asked a paisa from candidates,” he said and challenged rebels legislators to prove their charge by taking ‘truth test’ in front of Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala or deity Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.

The party had suspended eight rebels from the party for cross-voted Congress candidates in Council and Rajya Sabha polls last week.

Revanna, brother of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, also invited the Congress candidate K C Ramamurthy, retired IPS officer, who won the RS polls by bagging highest votes, to “take truth test” to prove his statement that he had not bribed legislators to seek votes. 

The JD(S) had supported businessman Rajiv Chandrashekar during the last RS polls but he had not sought money from the MP. 

In the earlier round of RS polls, the party had supported liquor baron Vijay Mallya and businessman M. A. M. Ramaswamy and even then he had not taken money from candidates, Revanna clarified.

A few years ago, Kumaraswamy had challenged the present State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa to take “truth test” before Lord Manjunatha, presiding deity of the temple town of Dharmasthala, on issues related to corruption. 

Noting his contributions to the party over the years, Revanna said the party increased its strength from 26 seats in Legislative Assembly in 2008 to 40 seats in 2013.