Digvijay Singh, K V Thomas observers for June 11 RS polls

Congress today made senior leaders Digvijay Singh and K V Thomas observers for the June 11 Rajya Sabha polls in Karnataka in the wake of a controversy due to "sting operations" by private news channels which purpotedly showed money being offered to MLAs to vote in favour of certain candidates.
When contacted, Thomas told PTI here that the decision to appoint him and Singh as observers for the Rajya Sabha polls in Karnataka was taken by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Both Singh and Thomas will leave for Bengaluru from New Delhi tomorrow evening.
The decision came a day after Congress approached the Election Commission pleading against countermanding the election to four Rajya Sabha seats from the state in the backdrop of "sting operations" purportedly showing MLAs negotiating a money deal in exchange for their votes.

Digvijay Singh, who is AICC in-charge of Karnataka, had led a delegation to the EC on the issue.
Later talking to reporters, Singh had dismissed suggestions that the matter was "serious" and warranted cancellation of the polls.

Noting that Jharkhand had witnessed cancellation of Rajya Sabha polls in March 2012 after a candidate was caught with huge cash in his vehicle, Singh said that nothing of this sort has happened in Karnataka.
A political slugfest broke out in Karnataka over the "sting operations".
The Commission had sought a factual report from the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka.
Five candidates are in the fray for four seats in the RS polls.

Congress has fielded its senior leaders Jairam Ramesh and Oscar Fernandez as party candidates for the polls. Former police officer K C Ramamurthy, who joined Congress, has also filed nomination for the third seat.