Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 29: Acrimonious scenes were witnessed in both houses of the state legislatures on the issue of distribution of cash by minister for food and civil suppliers, U T Khader, for enticing people of constituencies where bypoll is being held shortly, to vote for Congress. As ruling and opposition BJP legislators fought a pitched battle relating to the issue on Tuesday March 28, chaos prevailed during most of the session.

Former chief minister, Jagadish Shettar, who raised the topic as soon as the assembly session began in the morning, launched verbal tirade against the government. He accused the government of trying to win the bypoll by misusing its power and distributing money to voters. He said that ministers, instead of taking part in the legislature session, are visiting constituencies to distribute money to ensure victory for Congress candidates, duly adding that it was shameful for the government to stoop so low.

State chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, countering the attack, advised the BJP leaders, who he said had indulged in 'Operation Kamala' to woo legislators in the past, to desist from giving advice on morality and ethics to others. When Shettar and Siddaramaiah engaged in a war of heated words, they were supported by members of their respective parties. When Congress and BJP legislators hurled accusations at each other, creating a noisy scene in both the houses, JD(S) legislators preferred to remain neutral.

Law and parliamentary affairs minister, T B Jayachandra, advised the opposition not to raise issues pertaining to election campaigning in the house as all election-related petitions have to be moved before the Election Commission. Assembly speaker, K B Koliwad, supported the minister and asked the members to raise their objections with Election Commission. The BJP members retaliated by saying that they have raised an issue in which a minister had indulged in crime. They demanded resignation of Khader, and termed the government that is trying to win over the voters through money power as shameless. The opposition members relented after their repeated efforts to discuss the matter came across stiff opposition from the speaker who did not allow the issue to be raised.

In the legislative council too the issue of the car driver of Khader distributing cash to voters gave rise to verbal friction between opposing parties. Somanna Bevinamarada of BJP, who raised the issue during zero hour, urged the government to handle the issue of bribing of voters with all seriousness. He said that the election in which the minster's car driver is seen distributing money, cannot be termed as being held transparently.

Minister, Basavaraj Rayareddy, said that neither his party nor the party MLAs or ministers had offered cash to people in return for their votes. He asked the council members to raise the issue with Election Commission. Eshwarappa wanted to know whether it was wrong to draw attention of the government towards wrongdoings happening under its nose. This gave rise to arguments between BJP and Congress legislators.

The council chairman who intervened, advised the people making allegations to raise the issue with Election Commission which he opined, was the correct procedure. After this, the din in the council died down.