KARNATAKA BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday admitted that he had met Sharanagouda Kandakur, son of JD(S) MLA Naganagouda Kandakur, on the night of February 7 and discussed the possibility of getting his father to join the BJP.
On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had released an audio recording of a purported conversation between Yeddyurappa and Sharanagouda, in which the BJP leader is allegedly trying to poach the JD(S) MLA with the offer of money and a ministerial berth.
Yeddyurappa had dismissed the audio clip as “fake” and said Kumaraswamy is an “expert in voice recording”. He had offered to quit if he was found to be involved in attempts to poach legislators or influence the Assembly Speaker.
But on Sunday, speaking at the party’s office in Hubbali, Yeddyurappa said: “Yes, it is true that Sharanagouda came and met me at 12.30 (am) at the circuit house in Devadurga where I was staying and we discussed some things. Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has indulged in third grade politics by sending Sharanagouda to carry out a sting on me.”