A day after Congress accused that BJP leader G Janardhana Reddy was trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural to join the BJP, the Congress on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa was tried to poach its MLAs.

The Congress released an audio tape where Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote.

“Don’t go to Kochi, come back. We’ll make you a Minister and help you in whatever way you want.”
This audio recording of @BSYBJP trying to lure Congress MLA goes on to prove, that Yeddyurappa is working hard to live up to his reputation of being corrupt and devoid of ethics. pic.twitter.com/HSvh2chnlC

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— Congress (@INCIndia) May 19, 2018

In the audio, which was released by the Congress on Friday, it was alleged that Reddy was talking to a Congress MLA, claiming  that he has BJP president Amit Shah’s support to indulge in ‘horse trading’.

In the tape, released hours ahead of the crucial floor test, Yeddyurappa is allegedly heard speaking to Congress MLA from Hirekerur BC Patil over phone.

The man Congress claimed was Patil is heard congratulating Yeddyurappa on becoming the chief minister, and informing him that he is travelling on a bus to Kochi.

Yeddyurappa pleads with the man, saying “Come back, you will become minister….I will help you in whichever way you want.”

Also Read | Congress releases audio clip, accuses Janaradhana Reddy of bid to bribe MLA

When Patil says he is on a bus with others, Yeddyurappa purportedly tells him to give some excuse like “family reasons” to get down and return.

As Patil insists on clarity about his future if he switches sides, the man claimed to be Yeddyurappa says, “You will become minister, that’s all.”

The voice on the other end then says he has three more people with him. Yeddyurappa tells Patil to bring them too and trust him.

“Come back, you should not go in a bus….If you go to Kochi, you won’t be available and things won’t happen,” the man who Congress claimed is Yeddyurappa, says.

As Patil says he will get back to him in five minutes, the chief minister tells him to get in touch with the resourceful BJP MP and a close aide of the controversial Reddy brothers Sreeramulu, and inform him about his decision.

The BJP, however, rejected the charge, calling the tape the job of “mimicry artistes” and the “dirty tricks department” of the Congress.

“Mimicry artists in demand at @INCKarnataka office #Bengaluru,” Union minister Sadananda Gowda said in a tweet.

“Mimicry Audio’s prepared just to build fake records “Terror” Comedian at the helm of affairs….all anticipating defeat on floor. Dirty tricks department has new boss,” he said in another tweet.

Mimicry Audio’s prepared just to build fake records “Terror “ Comedian at the helm of affairs . all anticipating defeat on floor . Dirty tricks department has new boss

— Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) May 19, 2018

Talking about the first audio clip which was released on Friday, Reddy (as being alleged by the congress) is heard saying: “Please forget whatever happened in the past..Don’t worry, now don’t take a step back… I will support you. I will arrange a meeting with Amit Shah and you can speak to him one-to-one… and we can take the next step. We will get you whatever post you want… whatever designation you want. You will have 100 time the assets you have right now.”

The latest audio release has come at a time when only a few hours were left for the floor test.

(With agency inputs)