Chief Minster H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday said he would retire from politics if the voice in the audio CD released by him the previous day was proved to be not that of BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Interacting with reporters after attending the inauguration of the Mahamastakabhisheka rituals of Lord Bahubali at Dharmasthala near here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was standing in a holy place and reiterating that it was Mr. Yeddyurappa who could be heard attempting to lure a JD(S) MLA to switch sides.
On the second audio clip, where the names of Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar and others were mentioned, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he did not say that voice was of Mr. Yeddyurappa. “It was [that of] Deodurg MLA Shivanagouda Patil,” he said.
When his attention was drawn to Mr. Ramesh Kumar’s reported statement that the voice in the clip was not that of Mr. Yeddyurappa, he said he has submitted both audio clips to the Speaker, who has said an inquiry is required. “Let us see what ruling the Speaker gives in the Assembly on Monday,” he said.
He also claimed that even after the audio clips came out on Friday, the BJP has not stopped luring JD(S) MLAs. “Today morning, one of our MLAs called and told me that he was lured to go with the BJP,” he said.
