RO gets copy of 'sting' op; says will submit it to EC on Mon

Returning Officer for theRajya Sabha elections from Karnataka will on Monday submit to the Election Commission a report along with an unedited copy of the "sting operation" that purportedly showed MLAs negotiating money deal in exchange for their votes.
"The Commission has asked for an unedited copy of the 'sting operation' I have received from one channel now. The other channel is yet to submit.
"I will send a report alongwith the unedited copy to the Commission and Chief ElectoralOfficer Karnataka on Monday," Karnataka Legislative AssemblySecretary S Murthy, also the Returning Officer, told PTI.
The Returning Officer had submitted a prima facie written report to the Election Commission with some papercuttings and clippings on the very next day after the "stingoperations" were aired by twoprivate TV news channels on Thursday.

The footage of "sting operation" by one channel showeda JD(S) MLA purportedly talking about money in crores ofrupees for supporting a candidate.
A parallel "sting" operation by another channel showed Congress candidate K C Ramamurthy and Independent MLAs purportedly speaking about getting increased development funds for the constituency from the government in return for votes.

Murthy said there will be no change in the calendar of events for the elections "as of now", as there are no directions from the Commission in this regard.
Congress has fielded three candidates Jairam Ramesh, Oscar Fernandes (former Union ministers) and former IPS officer Ramamurthy for the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for June 11 to fill four vacancies.

BJP and JD(S) have fielded Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and B M Farooq, respectively.
The Congress decision to field the third candidate, Ramamurthy, has given jitters to JD(S), which needs five additional votes to see its candidate through, as it has 40 members.
The required strength for victory is 45 votes.
Five JDS MLAs, including Zameer Ahmed, have reportedly decided to back the third candidate of the ruling Congress, which is sure of two seats but falls short of numbers for the third candidate.
Congress has 122 MLAs and needs extra 13 votes toensure the victory of its third candidate, with Chief Minister seeking support of 11 Independents and five JDS rebel legislators.

BJP is also short of one vote, but is confident of filling the numerical gap.