Karnataka: Deputy CM Shivakumar accuses Kumaraswamy of making "offers" to Congress MLAs to vote for JDS in RS polls
DK Shivakumar on Monday accused JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy of making «offers» to Congress MLAs to influence them to vote for his party candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.
“We are aware of who HD Kumaraswamy is making phone calls to, what he is speaking and what offers he is making. Our MLAs have given us all the information. We are aware of BJP’s game plan too,” Shivakumar told the media in Bengaluru.
JDS has fielded former Rajya Sabha member and wealthy businessman Kupendra Reddy as NDA's surprise fifth candidate, setting off worries in the Congress camp.
Shivakumar, who is also the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)said the JDS would not field a fifth candidate without a rhyme or reason. «They are obviously trying for cross voting. We will know on the voting day.”
Asked if Congress was working on a counter strategy to secure votes, Shivakumar said the party did not need one. „People have elected 136 MLAs from the Congress and two independents are also with us,“ he said, dismissing any concerns.
There are only four RS vacancies in Karnataka, and the BJP and Congress have fielded one and three candidates, respectively. They would have won unopposed, but the contest has taken an unexpected turn with the entry of Reddy as an NDA candidate.
AICC leader Ajay Maken and sitting Rajya Sabha members GC Chandrashekar and Syed Naseer Hussain are contesting from the Congress while the BJP has fielded former MLC Narayansa Bhandage.
Both the Congress and the BJP are in a much better shape now in
