RS horse-trading tape: JD(S) calls for revoking polls, assures action on defaulters

Taking a strong exception to a sting that purportedly shows MLAs ready to sell their votes for the June 11 Rajya Sabha polls from Karnataka, the Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday demanded the Election Commission to cancel the polls for the Upper House.

"The JD (S) will definitely say the elections must be countermanded and I hope the Congress and the BJP will also take the same call. As a political party we can't allow this to happen," JD-S leader Danish Ali told ANI.

"It is very unfortunate, it is a blot on the face of democracy and institution like Rajya Sabha," he added.

Ali also said that candidates should not enter the Rajya Sabha by engaging in horse trading.

"I am going to talk to my party leadership today itself and if the Election Commission takes note of it, I think it will be issuing notices to the parties which are in the fray for the Karnataka Assembly elections," he added.

When asked to comment on JD-S MLAs found in the sting video, Ali said that the party won't spare the defaulters.

"We are not going to spare our MLAs also, actions will be taken against them also," he added.

Four seats in the Upper House are up for election from the southern state.

A group of MLAs from Karnataka were shown, by a television news channel yesterday, purportedly demanding money in crores of rupees, for supporting a candidate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The Rajya Sabha elections to four seats, slated for June 11, is witnessing an intense fight between B M Farooq of the JD(S) and K C Ramamurthy of the Congress, as they need votes beyond the numbers of their parties.

Karnataka's ruling Congress party has fielded three candidates - former ministers Oscar Fernandes, Jairam Ramesh, and former IPS officer KC Ramamurthy.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the BJP nominee and real estate baron BM Farooq will contest for the Janata Dal (Secular).