Cong urges SC to consider audio clip of Yediyurappa in MLAs’ disqualification case

Ahead of the Supreme Court delivering its verdict on the disqualification of the 17 MLAs in Karnataka, the state Congress on Monday (November 4) requested the top court to take on record a fresh audio clip in which Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is purportedly referring to rebel MLAs.

In response, a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana said it will consult Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi for constituting the bench tomorrow to consider the fresh material given by the Karnataka Congress.

A purported audio clip of Yediyurappa expressing anguish against leaders at a recent party meeting in Hubballi over their opposition to giving tickets to disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs for the December 5 assembly bypolls in 15 assembly constituencies had surfaced on Friday last.

In the audio, he is purportedly saying that the rebel Congress JD(S) MLAs, who were later disqualified, were kept in Mumbai during the final days of the coalition government under BJP national President Amit Shah’s watch.

He had purportedly hit out at party leaders for lack of support in “saving” the BJP government and not recognising their “sacrifice”, behind party coming to power.

The top court had on October 25 reserved verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs before the trust vote moved by the previous HD Kumaraswamy government.

(With inputs from agencies)