The JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka has effectively sounded the poll bugle by ordering a special investigation team (SIT) probe into the audio clip case, which has exposed the BJP's “Operation Lotus” bid to poach ruling MLAs. But the sudden turn of events points to the beginning of political witch hunting in Karnataka, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The SIT probe now seems to be turning the tide not just against the BJP but also the JD(S).
The audio clip of a purported conversation between leader of opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa and Sharanagouda, son of JD(S) MLA from Gurmitkal Naganagouda Kandkur, has hugely embarrassed the BJP. The clip has Yeddyurappa allegedly luring Sharanagouda to join hands with the BJP to topple the coalition.
A passing reference to Speaker Ramesh Kumar in the audio clip—implying that a Rs 50 crore “deal” had been struck with him to facilitate the resignation of rebel MLAs—pushed the assembly into a deadlock with the JD(S) and Congress pressing for a SIT probe and the BJP opposing it. The BJP is worried that the probe comes at a time when the country is heading for crucial Lok Sabha elections.
On Wednesday, an FIR was lodged at Devadurg based on a complaint filed by Sharanagouda under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy), naming Yeddyurappa as the first accused, followed by BJP MLAs Shivanagouda Nayak (Devadurg) and Preetam Gowda (Hassan) and former journalist Maramkal.
Meanwhile, a second audio clip circulating in the media has put BJP Hassan MLA Preetam Gowda in the dock. The conversation in the second audio clip had objectionable references to JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy allegedly made by Preetam. The unidentified voice is heard suggesting that it is wiser to join the BJP as “BJP is a national party and would remain as long as there is the sun and the moon. But JD(S) has no future as Deve Gowda's wicket might fall any time and Kumaraswamy has poor health.”
Violence broke out in Hassan on Wednesday and the situation turned volatile after more than 200 JD(S) supporters stormed into Preetam's residence, manhandled his parents and threw stones at his house, grievously injuring a Yuva Morcha member.
“The mob was exhorting each other to kill everyone in my family and were heard boasting that they had support from (H.D.) Revanna and Kumaraswamy. This is not the first time, I am under attack. The JD(S) is unable to tolerate my winning the Hassan seat. The mafia politics of Hassan must end. My family needs safety,” said Preetam, who denied that the voice in the widely circulated audio clip was his.
BJP leaders rushed to Hassan to express solidarity with Preetam's family and took out a padyatra on Thursday from Vidhana Soudha to Raj Bhavan and gave a memorandum to the governor about the violent attack and sought protection for the 104 MLAs of the saffron party.
Meanwhile, political circles perceive the SIT probe was a masterstroke by a harried Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah to keep both the BJP and JD(S) in check. The Congress is facing rebellion as the party has been sulking under the pressures of the coalition and playing second fiddle to the JD(S), a party with a mere 37 seats in the assembly. The Congress MLAs resent the stranglehold of the JD(S) over the government too. Siddaramaiah, who was handed a humiliating defeat by the Deve Gowda family in Mysuru last May, was also upset that the Congress rebels were from his own camp and their refusing to fall in line was painting a helpless picture of him before the party high command.
With the SIT probe, the Congress seems to have outsmarted both rivals. When the speaker convened the meeting of ruling and opposition party leaders in his chamber to end the deadlock in the assembly, Siddaramaiah remained adamant, stating he did not favour reversing the decision seeking a probe. Kumaraswamy said he was open to a house committee probe too.
But even after the BJP vehemently opposed the SIT probe and insisted that the privileges committee, a judicial inquiry or a house committee was good enough, Siddaramaiah dismissed the suggestions, saying the matter was of criminal nature and needed to be investigated by a criminal investigation agency.
“The committees are only fact-finding bodies and we want to end the menace of parties luring elected representatives. If the BJP is innocent, why fear the SIT?” asked Siddaramaiah.
The trick seems to have worked as Operation Lotus has been suspended for now. The four Congress rebels—Ramesh Jarkiholi, Dr Umesh Jadhav, B. Nagendra and Mahesh Kumatalli—who were holed up in a Mumbai hotel for nearly two months, are now back in Bengaluru. The four rebels MLAs—who turned up for the budget session after the CLP leader issued a whip and petitioned the speaker to disqualify the dissidents—claimed they had been away due to personal and health issues.
The BJP contends that Kumaraswamy is guilty of naming the speaker in the hurriedly called press meet on February 8, after releasing the audio clip. In fact, Kumaraswamy also claimed that he had himself recorded the conversation.
“An SIT probe would make the chief minister the first accused. During the press meet, he claimed to have got the conversation recorded, which is a violation of the right to privacy. Moreover, the CM has circulated a doctored two-minute audio clipping though he claimed to have a longer and original 40-minute audio clip, which is a criminal offence,” said BJP MLA Madhuswamy, who also suggested that the SIT was not an appropriate agency to probe the matter as it was controlled by the chief minister, who is an accused in the case.
Yeddyurappa had initially dubbed the audio clip as fake. But soon, he admitted that he had met Sharanagouda and held talks. However, he denied having spoken anything that denigrated the speaker. Yeddyurappa also announced that he would retire from politics, if he was found talking lowly about the speaker. But the second audio tape has Yeddyurappa making loose remarks about the speaker. The BJP has put up a brave face.
Insiders said the BJP was confident of getting a stay order on the SIT probe and the party is planning to launch a counter-attack on the Kumaraswamy government, by demanding an SIT probe into alleged corruption by sitting minister C. Puttarangashetty. The minister's typist was held by the police while carrying cash amounting to Rs 25 lakh in the Vidhana Soudha. However, the coalition partners chose to downplay the incident.
Interestingly, the two audio clips have led to churning among two major communities in Karnataka. Many in the BJP admit the row over the first audio clip was a major loss of face for the party, but the SIT probe has only created sympathy for Lingayat strongman Yeddyurappa, as Sharanagouda is now under attack by the community for “backstabbing” their tallest leader.
On the other hand, the Vokkaliga sentiment is growing strong in the Old Mysore region following the unsavoury remarks against Deve Gowda, a popular community leader, by Preetam, a fellow Vokkaliga.
