Arsikere MLA K M Shivalinge Gowda.
Credit: DH File Photo
New Delhi: BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya on Sunday urged the Election Commission of India to probe into an audio clip allegedly featuring Arasikere Congress MLA Shivalinge Gowda, who claimed that money was distributed in Hassan constituency for Congress Lok Sabha candidate Shreyas Patel during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
"Now, there is another audio making news in my state (I have not independently verified the authenticity of the audio). In this explosive audio clip, a sitting Congress MLA from Hassan district, Shri. Shivalinge Gowda, is heard speaking, apparently to a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, on how much money should be distributed per voter in the Hassan parliamentary seat to ensure their candidate’s victory. This was in connection with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, " the BJP MP posted on X. He tagged EC in the post.
He pointed out the irony was that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been 'shouting vote chori’ while his own party men are 'past masters' in it.
"The fact that Shri. Rahul Gandhi makes wild allegations without worrying about what his party and party men are all about is proof that he is desperately trying to remain relevant in the Indian political landscape. He does not realise that Congress is left with little or no credibility, " Singh wrote.
He further urged the EC to take note of this audio and investigate it alongside his earlier complaint.
Earlier in August, Singh wrote to the electoral body demanding probe into former Union Minister CM Ibrahim's statement claiming Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had purchased 3,000 votes in Badami assembly constituency to ensure win in 2018 State Assembly elections.