Even as the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) is fighting for its survival in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, the emergence of a controversy around sitting Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna’s alleged involvement in several obscene videos has had an impact on the party’s image. The JDS, which is in alliance with the BJP in the Lok Sabha election in Karnataka, has distanced itself from the row. But political pundits say it has left the alliance embarrassed, though this may not have much of a political impact.
“It definitely has left the alliance partners — BJP and JDS — thoroughly embarrassed,” said political analyst Sandeep Shastri.
“The next round of elections is in North Karnataka where the JDS does not draw many numbers in terms of support. So, I think it will have minimal visibility in that sense. Unless the SIT probe comes out with significantly concrete evidence, I think the BJP will be able to dismiss it as morphed. Had it blown up the way it has now, just before the polls, then it would have had a different impact in Southern Karnataka,” Shastri explained.
As the controversy broke out, the ruling Congress set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the obscene video case. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted,” while announcing the probe. Meanwhile, it is reportedly said that Prajwal Revanna, 33, fled to Germany as soon as the video clips were found circulating in the district.
The alleged video clips surfaced a couple of days before Hassan went to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, took up the issue suo moto and requested the Congress government and the State DGP, Alok Mohan, to set up an investigation team and probe into the matter as they claim that many women were found to have been allegedly “sexually assaulted” by the MP. Revanna’s election agent, in a complaint filed in Hassan, called it “morphed” and “an attempt to malign his name by those who are opposed to him with malicious intent”.
MG Poornachandra Thejaswi, who has been representing both the JDS and the BJP, in his formal complaint lodged in Hassan, has named some Naveen Gowda among others for allegedly being involved in circulating the morphed videos and images with the intent to defame and malign the incumbent MP.
Reactions
Revanna’s uncle and former JDS chief minister HD Kumaraswamy made the statement that the party will support a “transparent probe into the matter”, and when complaints are filed, strict legal action will be taken.
Kumaraswamy also stressed that if Prajwal had fled to another country, then the SIT team that has been set up should ensure they bring him back to Karnataka to be part of the probe and the JDS has no role in it.
“Be it HD Deve Gowda or me, we have always respected women and when we have been approached with complaints. We have resolved their issues with immediate action. The CM has ordered an SIT investigation, let it begin and let them bring him back from abroad. That is not our concern or does not need our role,” Kumaraswamy said.
JDS’ alliance partner BJP have also distanced themselves from the controversy and has sought an immediate report on the issue.
BJP spokesperson S Prakash told News18, “BJP has nothing to do with this, the government has formed an SIT, let there be probe. This does not affect our alliance. Kumaraswamy himself has said if he (Prajwal Revanna) has done anything wrong, he should face action. The government should come out with a report as soon as possible. It is for the JDS to handle this, not the BJP,” he said.
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