Cash for seat will further dent trust in institutions, says Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday indicated that the practice of using money power in exchange for becoming Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) as wrong ,which could potentially erode people's trust in our institutions further.

Reacting to former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy admitting seeking money from an MLC aspirant, Naqvi said, "This is totally wrong. If it is indeed true then thats bad. If money power is used to appoint people as MLC's and people get elected to Rajya Sabha, then the trust in the institutions suffers a big jolt ."

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy has been caught on tape asking for Rs. 40 crore from an MLC aspirant who sought his party's support in the recently concluded elections to the Upper House of the Karnataka legislature.

The audio clip of the conversation between Kumaraswamy and the aspirant from Bijapur, Vijaygouda Patil, which was anonymously released to the media late on Saturday, has been reportedly authenticated by Kumaraswamy.

In the clip, the JDS leader is heard saying, "Our MLAs are not in my control. They are already in talks with (CM) Siddaramaiah and have offered to support the Congress candidate for money. You pay the money and I will take care of the rest."

The conversation is purported to have occurred in Bangalore during a party meet in early June this year. Vijaygouda Patil's failure to secure the JD(S) nomination is being seen as the motivation behind the expose.