Bengaluru: The upcoming Karnataka state polls have been surrounded by controversy as a video has emerged showing Congress leader DK Shivakumar distributing currency notes to the crowds during a roadshow in Bevinahalli, Mandya district.
The incident occurred during the Congress' 'Praja Dhwani Yatra' on Tuesday, and shows Shivakumar throwing Rs 500 notes from the roof of a bus. The announcement for the assembly elections in Karnataka has already been made.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has accused the Congress party of using various tactics to win votes and has criticized state Congress president DK Shivakumar for his actions.
Bommai condemned Shivakumar for "blatantly" using all kinds of power and treating the people of Karnataka like beggars. However, Bommai also accused Shivakumar of attempting to lure BJP MLAs by offering them tickets in constituencies where the party has not yet announced its candidates.
PTI reported that Bommai claimed Shivakumar had been making phone calls to BJP MLAs in 100 constituencies and offering them Congress tickets if they switched parties. Meanwhile, Shivakumar has been named as a candidate for the traditional Congress seat of Kanakapura, with the party yet to announce candidates for 100 of the 224 Assembly seats.