Voice on tape mine, admits BS Yeddyurappa, but says HD Kumaraswamy doctored it

HUBBALLI/BENGALURU: Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa on Sunday dropped a bombshell by admitting that the voice in an audio clip released by CM HD Kumaraswamy was indeed his. The CM had released the audio tape on Friday alleging that Yeddyurappa was trying to buy the loyalty of a JD(S) MLA. The BJP leader, who had initially claimed that the clip was fake, has now done a U-turn.

The clip released by the CM had an alleged conversation between Yeddyurappa, BJP MLA Shivanagouda Naik and Sharanagouda, son of JD(S) MLA from Gurmitkal, Naganagouda Kandakur, at the inspection bungalow in Devadurga in Raichur late on Thursday night.

Yeddyurappa, who arrived at Hubbali on Sunday, told reporters that Kumaraswamy had doctored the clip to suit his political ends. "It is true that I met Sharangouda," Yeddyurappa said. "Kumaraswamy sent the MLA's son to me to make me speak according to their requirements and then doctored and edited the audio. The CM himself seems to have written the script for the recording," he added.

Cashing in on Yeddyurappa's unexpected admission, Congress stepped up the attack on him and demanded that he take political 'sanyas'. Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said Yeddyurappa should stick to his promise and retire from politics.