Senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Minister H.D. Revanna, on Tuesday, challenged party rebels to take the “truth test” in front of Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala or deity Chamundeshwari in Mysuru to prove their allegations of him taking bribe for the polls to Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha (RS).
Denying allegations made by the JD(S) rebels, including MLAs N. Cheluvarayaswam and H.C. Balakrishna, Mr. Revanna said he had not taken any bribe from candidates who had contested the council and RS polls with the support of the party. “I have not asked a paisa from candidates,” he said and challenged the rebels to prove their charge by taking “truth test”.
The party had suspended eight rebels from the party for cross-voting for the Congress candidates in council and RS polls last week.
Mr. Revanna also invited Congress candidate K.C. Ramamurthy, retired IPS officer, who won the RS polls by bagging highest votes, to take “truth test” to prove his statement that he had not bribed legislators to seek votes.
The JD(S) had supported businessman Rajiv Chandrashekar during the last RS polls but he had not sought money from the MP. In earlier round of RS polls, the party had supported liquor baron Vijay Mallya and businessman M.A.M. Ramaswamy and even then, the party had not taken money from candidates, Mr. Revanna clarified.
A few years ago, Mr. Revanna’s younger brother and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy challenged state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa to take “truth test” before Lord Manjunatha on issues related to corruption.
Noting his contributions to the party over the years, Mr. Revanna said the party increased its strength from 26 seats in Legislative Assembly in 2008 to 40 seats in 2013.
On action to be taken against rebels, he said the party’s national president H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy would decide on the future course of action.
