Bengaluru: Even as Congress is pressurising the state government to order a fair probe into the phone tapping scandal, allegedly involving former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, the BJP government is likely to decide on the nature of the probe only after the cabinet is formed.
This is because CM B.S. Yediyurappa feels that it is better to take the decision after his ministry takes shape, which is likely early next week. Mr Yediyurappa has been in Delhi since Thursday and will meet Union Home Minister and BJP national president Amit Shah to seek his permission for cabinet formation. He has gone with a list of probable ministers, which needs Mr Shah’s approval.
Congress is demanding a high-level probe as telephones of their leaders too were said to be tapped by Mr Kumaraswamy despite the party being part of the coalition. A few BJP leaders too are seeking a probe, but are not serious about it, the leader said.
He said that the JD(S) has become the common enemy for both Congress and BJP. For the Congress the JD(S) is an 'opportunistic' party which pushed its agenda only to create dissensions within the party.
For the BJP, JD(S) prevented it from coming to power at the BBMP after aligning with Congress. The JD(S) did it again after the 2018 Assembly polls when the BJP, though the single-largest party, could not form the government as the JD(S) joined hands with Congress to form the coalition government.
It is said that after the coalition government fell, Mr Kumaraswamy reportedly wanted to extend outside support to the BJP which was flatly rejected by the lotus party leaders. The bomb dropped by JD(S) disqualified MLA A.H. Vishwanath that Mr Kumaraswamy ordered phone tapping of CLP leader and former CM Siddaramaiah, Mr Yediyurappa and other Congress leaders has come in handy for Congress and BJP parties.
Audiogate has also driven a wedge between former home minister M.B. Patil and former water resources minister D.K. Shivakumar. On Thursday, Mr Patil pressed for a detailed probe and severe punishment to those indulging in such criminal activities.
Mr Shivakumar denied that Mr Kumaraswamy had orderd phone tapping. He accused Mr Patil of politicising the issue by toeing the BJP line. On Friday, Mr Patil said Mr Shivakumar reacted to his statement without understanding it in full.
He said that he will write a letter to Mr Yediyurappa for a high-level probe since phone tapping was a 'serious offence'.
The scam has brought Vokkaliga strongmen Mr Shivakumar and Mr Kumaraswamy together.
