Rs 25-cr for MLC seat: Let people take a decision, says CM

Bangalore, Jul 6: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today hit out at JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who is caught in a row over an audio CD allegedly discussing about money to be paid to his party MLAs by an aspirant for MLC seat, saying he could not defend himself claiming other parties were also indulging in corruption.

"I haven't seen the conversation in the CD. I will not comment on it. Let people of the state take a decision on it," Siddaramaiah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Kumaraswamy is at the centre of a controversy after yesterday's release of an audio CD about him purportedly telling the supporters of MLC seat aspirant Vijugowda Patil, a JD(S) leader from Bijapur district, about the demand for money from his party MLAs.

Asked about Kumaraswamy's allegations that all parties are involved in such scandals, Siddaramaiah said, "If a cat drinks the milk closing its eyes, it doesn't mean that the entire world is not watching it drink the milk."

"Whoever has done.. mistake is a mistake. Corruption is corruption. If he (Kumaraswamy) says other parties are also doing it, is not a defence at all," he said.

In the CD which surfaced mysteriously with all the Kannada TV channels playing the audio clip, Kumaraswamy was purportedly heard telling the supporters of Patil "Each MLA (of JDS) is asking for one crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC..."

At another point, Kumaraswamy was heard saying "40 people (JDS MLAs) are asking for 40 crore... This is my fate."

Reacting to it, Kumaraswamy did not disown the authenticity of the conversation but said he had only discussed the direction in which the current politics was moving and it was not proper to portray him as a villain when he only discussed in general the harsh reality of politics.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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