The Election Commission of India has received a report from the Karnataka Chief Election Officer on the “sting” operation purportedly showing some MLAs demanding funds for votes in the elections to the Rajya Sabha from the State. The Commission is yet to decide further course of action.
Following media reports about the sting operation, the ECI had sought a report on the facts of the matter.
In one of the “sting” operations, four Karnataka MLAs were purportedly shown discussing that funds were being promised for their votes to a candidate for elections to the Rajya Sabha, scheduled to be held on June 11. While the JD(S) and the Congress have fielded their candidates for one seat, the Congress has two assured seats and the BJP one.
The two JD(S) legislators, Mallikarjun Khuba and G.T. Deve Gowda, featured in one alleged sting showing that they were allegedly negotiating the rates ranging from Rs.5 crore and above for their votes. Two other MLAs in the video were identified as B.R. Patil of the Karnataka Janata Paksha and an Independent, Varthur Prakash.
