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Karnataka honeytrap controversy: CM Siddaramaiah may kick the ball to Rahul Gandhi’s court

MLC Rajendra meets Siddaramaiah over an alleged attempt to honeytrap him as well as his father, Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna.

Senior Congress leader KN Rajanna and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, both key aides of Siddaramaiah, are planning a visit to New Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi. (Express Archive Photo)

With Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna’s son Rajendra, an MLC, meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly over a honeytrap attempt allegedly orchestrated by a senior Congress minister, the chief minister may take up the issue with the party’s national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

Rajendra met Siddaramaiah at his official residence, Cauvery, on Saturday and reportedly presented digital evidence of an alleged attempt to honeytrap both him and his father. He claimed that an influential minister, whom he identified, was behind the attempt.

At a public event in the Madhugiri Assembly constituency, Rajendra lashed out at the alleged mastermind. “Does he not have a family? Why is he trying to honeytrap us?” he asked.

The MLC said he and his father would act based on the chief minister’s guidance regarding filing a complaint.

Also Read | 48 Karnataka MLAs honey trapped, attempt to target me as well: Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna

Sources revealed that Rajendra had a recent confrontation with one of the minister’s aides over a sensitive matter. Rajanna and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, both key aides of Siddaramaiah, are planning a visit to New Delhi to meet Gandhi. The meeting, facilitated by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, will focus on exposing a senior minister’s alleged conspiracy to honeytrap party members for political gains. The two ministers also aim to prevent the other minister from staking a claim to a top post, a Congress leader said.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, refused to comment on the controversy.

The Congress high command has already gathered intelligence on the honeytrap scandal, including how the BJP leveraged it and which Congress members were involved in it.

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Rajanna told reporters in Tumakuru that he intended to submit a written complaint to both Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara by Wednesday or Thursday, adding that like-minded ministers would deliberate on their next steps during Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

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