New Delhi: Karnataka JD(S) MLA K Srinivasa Gowda on Friday said that he voted in favour of Congress as the polling for the Rajya Sabha for four Rajya Sabha seats is underway.
After casting his vote, Gowda said, “I voted for Congress…because I love it.”
Earlier in the day, Janta Dal (Secular) chief HD Kumaraswamy on Friday alleged “horse-trading” in the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections claiming that Congress leader Siddaramaiah was persuading JDS MLAs to not vote for their own party but that of the candidate of the grand old party.
“Yes definitely. He is pressuring them not to vote for JD(S),” Kumaraswamy told the media persons on being asked about Siddaramaiah’s claim that some JD(S) MLAs were in touch with him.
The former Karnataka chief minister also pointed out that Siddaramaiah has refuted the allegations of writing open letters to JD(S) MLAs requesting them to cast their “conscience vote” in favour of his party’s candidate.
“Today, before local media he ( Siddaramaiah) said he did not write to mu MLAs. He had even tweeted the letter from his social media account. Now he is denying what he said yesterday. This shows his double standards,” the JD(S) leader added.
Further, Kumaraswamy alleged the BJP general secretary CT Ravi was spotted entering the Congress office in Karnataka. “CT Ravi is BJP general secretary, so how did he enter Congress office? This shows he went to Siddaramaiah for his cooperation in the victory of the BHP candidate,” he said.
He exuded confidence that JD(S) already has 30-31 votes in Rajya Sabha elections.
“We have confidence that we have 30-31 votes. JD (S) K Srinivasa Gowda has expressed that he will vote for Congress. Now, let us see,” he added.
#WATCH | I have voted for Congress because I love it: K Srinivasa Gowda, Karnataka JD(S) leader on Rajya Sabha elections pic.twitter.com/oMSkdlYSuQ
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022
In Karnataka, JD(S) has fielded entrepreneur and social worker Kupendra Reddy as its first candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections, while the Congress has fielded Mansoor Ali Khan as its second candidate to corner JD(S) and its bid to send Kupendra Reddy to the Rajya Sabha.
Six candidates are fray for four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka.
A day ahead of polling, former chief minister and Janta Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday urged the Congress to give its second preferential votes to JD(S), if it really want to defeat BJP.
