RS polls: Political row in K’taka over sting operation, EC seeks report

A political slugfest broke out in Karnataka on Friday over TV ‘sting operations’ that purportedly showed MLAs negotiating a money deal in exchange for their votes in elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from the state even as the Election Commission sought a report.

As a demand was made that the Election Commission take appropriate action over the alleged money deal, the EC sought a factual report from Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka. The Commission said it has "asked CEO Karnataka to provide a report on the facts of the matter." 

The Commission said it has received queries from newspersons regarding the sting following which it was issuing the brief statement. With elections due to be held on June 11, five candidates are in the fray for four seats after the deadline for withdrawals expired today.

As the videos of the "sting operations" aired by two private TV news channels yesterday brought discomfiture to him over allegations about the ruling Congress' moves to win over MLAs including from the JD(S) to add up to its numbers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah put up a brave face, saying, "...Congress has never done such things, they will never do it also."