Aland Vote Chori Issue Triggers Heated Exchange In Assembly
BJP insisted it should be held only after the interim SIT report was placed before the House.
Belagavi : The topic of “vote chori” in the Aland Assembly constituency triggered sharp exchanges in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with Minister Priyank Kharge and Aland MLA B R Patil pressing for a discussion, while the BJP demanded that the issue be taken up only after the interim report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is tabled.
When Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka raised an issue related to the Minister for Women and Child Welfare, B R Patil continued to press for a debate on the alleged voter list irregularities.
Once that exchange concluded, Priyank Kharge and Patil again rose to raise the “vote chori” issue. “Vote chori has happened. We should be allowed to speak on it. This is a serious matter,” Patil said.
Backing him, Kharge said the issue must be discussed on the floor of the House, terming it a serious matter and alleging that votes were being traded for as little as Rs 70.
“We want to know who is doing it and how it is being done. If an issue like this is not discussed here, where else should it be discussed,” he said.
Questioning the Opposition’s stance, Kharge asked why it was acting evasive whenever the “vote chori” issue was raised, invoking the Kannada saying “kumbala kai kalla andre….”
Responding for the BJP, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar said his party was not opposed to a discussion but insisted it should be held only after the interim SIT report was placed before the House.
“Let the government table the SIT report; we are ready for discussion. Suddenly, how can it be taken up? The interim reports of SITs formed on vote chori and the Dharmasthala issue should be placed before the House,” he demanded.
Countering this, Kharge questioned whether any reports had been tabled when the Opposition earlier raised issues such as MUDA and the Valmiki Corporation. Patil, in turn, said a discussion was warranted as the SIT had already filed a charge sheet in the case.
Speaker U T Khader said the demand for discussion could not be taken up immediately as the MLA had submitted the request only on Tuesday morning. He assured members that the issue could be considered later.
