The Karnataka BJP filed a complaint against Yathindra Siddaramaiah, former MLA and son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Friday (September 22), alleging corruption in the assembly election, news agency ANI reported. This comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, former MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah, became embroiled in a controversy after a video of him claiming to have given iron boxes and cookers to Madiwala (washermen) community members in the Varuna constituency before the Assembly elections went viral.
According to reports, the video was shot three days ago at the Madiwala Association's inauguration in Nanjangud. In the video, he claims that thousands of people attended an event to strengthen the community ahead of the election. "My father, Siddaramaiah, was also present at the event." Cookers and iron boxes were distributed, and my father ensured that they were distributed by Nanjappa (a community leader). I was supposed to attend the event, but I was unable to do so. This ensured that the community was behind my father...," he explained, TNIE reported.
However, a significant twist came in Yathindra's statement when he clarified that the distribution was meant to secure his own victory, not his father's. This was due to the timing of the event, which took place before Siddaramaiah decided to contest from Varuna and before the election code of conduct was enforced.
When reached for comment by TNIE (The New Indian Express), Yathindra Siddaramaiah denied any personal involvement in the gift distribution. He asserted that office-bearers of the Madiwala community conducted the distribution during their district convention in the Varuna constituency, where his father had already decided to contest from Kolar. "My father attended the convention on my behalf," Yathindra clarified.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take Yathindra's statement into consideration. Notably, an election petition has already been filed against Siddaramaiah. Bommai emphasised that if concrete evidence emerges to support Yathindra's claims, the ECI should take it seriously, as giving out freebies during elections is a serious offence. As the allegations are investigated, they add a new layer of complication to Karnataka's political landscape.