A crisis-ridden BJP, which is making all-out efforts to prevent collapse of its government in Karnataka, on Saturday alleged that the JD(S) tried to lure one of its MLAs with the promise of a ministerial berth and even released an audio CD which it claimed as evidence.
State unit BJP President K.S. Eswarappa told reporters at a private resort on the city outskirts, where the ruling party has lodged its 80-odd MLAs to prevent any possible horse trading, charged that former Chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy had made the “offer” to his party MLA Appacchu Ranjan from Madikeri district.
Mr. Ranjan, who was also present on the occasion, claimed that Mr. Kumaraswamy had a telephonic conversation with him during which he “offered him a cabinet rank ministerial berth for crossing over to JD(S).”
He claimed he was also requested to abstain from voting during the confidence vote on October 11.
Mr. Kumaraswamy, however, has rejected the allegations as “baseless”.
