The election season also seems to be the season of leaked video and audio tapes, especially in the Old Mysore region.
A day after an audio clip of Congress leader G. Made Gowda discussing money matters with JD(S) leader C.S. Puttaswamy surfaced in Mandya, a video in which MLA for Hassan Preetham Gowda is seen giving instructions to a few people on how to make JD(S) supporters vote for BJP candidates went viral in Hassan on Monday. Interestingly, the Congress’ district vice-president is seen sitting next to the BJP MLA in the video. The 59-second video indicates that the BJP is making all efforts to win over staunch followers of the JD(S). The MLA is heard asking his supporters to lure supporters of Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna.
“You catch hold of those people aiming to contest in Gram Panchayat, Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat polls. You assure them of your support when they require it. You should also tell them that Revanna will take care of his workers only if his candidate is defeated. This time, he has distributed ₹ 1 lakh per booth. If his son is defeated, he will definitely distribute ₹ 5 lakh per booth in the next Assembly elections,” the MLA is heard saying in the video.
It is said that the MLA was speaking to a group of Congress workers willing to work for A. Manju, the BJP candidate in the constituency.