Bengaluru, March 15: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has alleged that four individuals from Odisha attempted to bribe Congress MLAs with ₹5 crore each to facilitate cross-voting.
Speaking to the media near the KPCC office and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, Shivakumar stated that the party’s MLAs were approached with the offer but refused to engage in what he termed ‘horse trading.’
According to Shivakumar, the individuals, with the assistance of a local resident named Suresh, booked rooms in Bengaluru and subsequently approached Congress legislators with the bribe. He revealed that two of the four individuals have been apprehended, while the other two managed to escape. The arrested suspects have admitted to their intentions and were found in possession of blank cheques, indicating an orchestrated effort to execute Operation Kamala.
When questioned about a potential meeting with Kharge, Shivakumar emphasized that Congress MLAs would naturally seek the party president’s guidance rather than meeting with BJP leaders. He confirmed that the MLAs had met Kharge and received his blessings before their planned trip to Odisha on Monday.
Regarding the bribery incident, Shivakumar stated that police have seized the cheque intended for the bribe and are preparing to file a report. He confirmed that a complaint has already been lodged against the suspects, with two in custody and efforts underway to locate the others. The police will conduct a thorough investigation, and legal proceedings will follow.
Responding to questions about the party’s internal challenges, Shivakumar dismissed any notion of trouble, asserting that he remains optimistic and confident in his leadership.
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