Distribution of silver coins, cash during Cong convention suspected

Distribution of silver coins and cash is suspected to have pulled crowd for the Chief Minister's 'Sadhana Samavesha', at Srirangapatna on Friday.

The convention held here was also a show of strength of MLA Rameshbabu Bandisiddegowda, who had joined the Congress from the JD(S), who is also one of the ticket aspirants.

According to sources, he had allegedly distributed silver coins to Anganwadi workers and to the local leaders, to fetch people to the convention. Each person attending the event was given Rs 200, it is said.

Free liquor

There are also allegations that a few wine shops and bars were instructed to provide free liquor to the men attending the convention at Malavalli. As a result, a few persons, under the influence of liquor, were seen hindering the speech of the leaders, during the programme. The party activists removed them from the stadium. There are also allegations against MLA P M Narendraswamy of distributing Rs 350 per person, attending the programme.

However, both Rameshbabu Bandisiddegowda and Narendraswamy were not available for comments.