Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Pawan Khera alleged that, fearing defeat in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections, BJP and its leadership are hatching a plot to kill AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife and the entire family through Manikantha Rathod, BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district.
“This is clear from the audio recording of BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency Manikantha Rathod, who also happens to be the blue-eyed boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,” Mr Surjewala alleged in Bengaluru on May 6.
Mr. Rathod is allegedly named in over 30 criminal cases reported in Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, and Bidar districts, involving serious crimes such as attempt to murder, illegal transportation of Anna Bhagya rice, narcotics smuggling, illegal possession of firearms, and criminal intimidation.
