Launching a fresh attack on the BJP over charges of horse trading in Karnataka, the Congress on Saturday alleged that BJP's BS Yeddyurappa had offered at total of around Rs 200 crore to 18 of its MLAs, in an attempt to destabilise the ruling coalition in the state.
Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala addressed a press conference here and alleged that Yeddyurappa had offered Rs 10 crore per MLA and Rs 50 crore to the Speaker.
The allegation comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy released an audio clip in which BJP's Yeddyurappa is purportedly trying to lure a JD(S) MLA. Just a few hours before presenting the state budget in the Assembly, Kumaraswamy held a press conference and told media about the audio clip, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi
KC Venugopal said today, "It (audio clips) states that BS Yeddyurappa is offering Rs 10 crore per MLA and in his deliberation, it is clear there are 18 MLAs. Therefore it comes at the rate of around Rs 200 crore. He is offering 12 MLAs the minister post, six were offered chairman posts in different boards."
"He (Yedyurappa) is also offering election expenses to MLAs after they resign. They are offering Rs 50 crore to the Speaker for not disqualifying his MLAs. Clippings are referring to the names of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi ji for managing here and there through Yeddyurappa himself," he added.
Surjewala also said, "In what capacity is the BJP Karnataka President and former Chief Minister discussing approaching Supreme Court judges to get the case right? Have Narendra Modi and Amit Shah given them such assurances? Has the SC become a 'jebi dukaan' of BJP?".
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