Mandya: An audio clip of an alleged conversation between Congress veteran leader G Madegowda and District in-charge Minister C S Puttaraju, based on demand for money towards election campaign has gone viral, here on Sunday, April 7.
In the conversation Madegowda is allegedly heard asking money to be sent to his son Madhu, as he is on campaigning for Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
Madegowda says that due to deteriorating health, he would not be a part of the campaign, but his son Madhu would look after Nikhil’s campaign in Maddur and that money was required urgently for the same. He is heard demanding money from Puttaraju, specifically stating that people are asking for it.
Madegowda is also allegedly heard requesting Puttaraju in making the arrangements as soon as possible, by contacting Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, for which Puttaraju replies positively.
Madegowda has accepted that the conversation was struck by him and that the funds were requested to meet daily expenses during campaigning, which also involved tea, coffee, snacks to the people who were involved in campaigning. He has also justified the same by adding that it was not a case of bribery and that all these expenses were common during poll campaigning.
