Ready for any probe; Yeddyurappa about audio tape on toppling

: Accusing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of indulging in 'third grade' politics, Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Sunday said he was ready for any inquiry into an audio clip about his alleged bid to destabilise the coalition government in the state.

The audio tape war is set to play out in the assembly on Monday, with Yeddyurappa saying that his party would raise the matter about an audio tape in which Kumaraswamy is heard purportedly discussing cash-for-seat with supporters of an MLC seat aspirant, which had stirred a controversy in 2014.

"The Chief Minister is doing third grade politics. He is indulging in blackmail, conspiracy.

The Chief Minister had himself sent the MLA's son (Sharan Gouda) to the guest house whereI was staying at around 12:30 in the night and made him speak to me.

They have kept the part of discussion (in the tape) that they needed as record, leaving the rest," Yeddyurappa said.

Pointing out that the Chief Minister had himselfclaimed that he had sent the MLA's son to him, Yeddyurappa said, "It is true that he (Sharan Gouda) had come and spoken to me.

"What happened...all those things let's see in the future, but the Chief Minister has stooped to the level of sending someone and getting the conversation recorded.

No Chief Minister in independent India has behaved in such a manner," he told reporters in Hubballi, adding that he was ready for any inquiry.

Facing turmoil in the Congress-JD(S) ruling coalition that has cast a shadow over the stability of his government, Kumaraswamy had on Friday released the audio clip in which Yeddyurappa is purportedly trying to lure JDS MLA Naganagouda through his son.

Yeddyurappa, who is at the vortex of the row over his alleged bid to poach the ruling coalition MLAs for the past few weeks, was quick dismiss the clip as "fake" and a "concocted story".

He had on Friday dismissed the claim by the Chief Minister that he had spoken in the audio about a 'Rs 50 crore' offer to the assembly speaker.

"I will retire from politics if it (the allegation) is proved If I had spoken like this(about the speaker), if it is proved,I will resign as an MLA and quit politics,"he had said.

Referring to the audio involving Kumaraswamy that had stirred a controversy in 2014, Yeddyurappa Sunday said that demanding Rs 25 crore to make someone an MLC was an unforgivableoffence.

"We have the documents, tomorrow we will hand it over to the Speaker...

We have to bring out the true colours of the Chief Minister who had stooped to the level of demanding Rs 25crore to give it to MLAs (in return for votes). It should also be inquired into," he said.

Kumaraswamy was at the centre of a controversy in July 2014 after an audio CD surfaced of him purportedly telling supporters of MLC seat aspirant Vijugowda Patil, the then JDS leader from Bijapur district, about the demand for money from his party MLAs in return for votes.

In the tape, Kumaraswamy was purportedly heard telling the supporters, "Each MLA (of JDS) is asking for one crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC."
At another point, Kumaraswamy was heard saying, "40 people (JDS MLAs) are asking for 40 crore...This is my fate."
Did I ask for money? I don't have money... It was discussed within theparty and not to lure other party people with Rs 10 or 20crore as Chief Minister."