Somashekar says it's Congress leaders' plot to malign BJP government

Bengaluru: Cooperation Minister S.T. Somashekar on Wednesday alleged that Congress leaders were behind the video showing former minister Jarkiholi Ramesh in a compromising position which led to his resignation from the State Cabinet.

Seaking to the media, Somashekar said "It is all well- planned and delivered. A few ministers of the 'Bombay Team' were being targeted. They blamed the team for the collapse of the previous coalition government."

"Bombay Team" is an euphemism for the group of 15 MLAs who were kept in a Bombay hotel after they resigned from the previous Congress-JD(S) coalition government and triggered its collapse paving the way for BJP coming to power. "We have received credible information a few days back that there was a plot to damage our reputation and force us to resign during the Assembly session. We didn't go to court fearing that they would release a CD," he said.

The minister also explained why six ministers had sought a court injunction against media publishing any defamatory content against them. On Congress leaders' involvement in the sleaze CD scandal, his answer was affirmative. "I was in the same Congress party for two decades and I know each and every plan that they make. The entire State knows Congress' moral standards," Somashekar remarked.

The minister also claimed that apart from the six, more ministers of the 'Bombay Team' had planned to approach court seeking an injunction against publication of anything defamatory.