Amid the political heat in Mandya thanks to a high-profile poll battle featuring Independent candidate Sumalatha and coalition nominee Nikhil K., an audio clip containing a conversation in which veteran Congress leader and Gandhian G. Made Gowda sought money from JD(S) Minister C.S. Puttaraju for the election expenses of Mr. Nikhil was leaked on Sunday.

The one-minute-55-second clip, said to be of a telephonic conversation between the two leaders, was leaked to the media on Sunday. In it, Mr. Gowda, who spearheads the Cauvery agitations whenever the water crisis arises, is purportedly heard asking the Minister to arrange money for his workers. Mr. Gowda also says that his son (Madhu G. Made Gowda, a former MLC) would collect the money. Mr. Puttaraju is heard replying that he would arrange the money.

Hours after the audio clip was leaked, Mr. Gowda addressed the media here and admitted that he had asked for money. But he clarified that it was not for bribing voters, but for taking care of the electioneering expenses.

He said no one could contest elections without spending money, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The boys ask me for money to arrange coffee, breakfast and liquor. It is common nowadays, and so I asked for the money,” he said.

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Election officials said they would look into the matter.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy maintained that there was nothing wrong in Mr. Gowda seeking money. Addressing a press conference in Udupi, he pointed out that the Election Commission of India itself allows candidates to spend ₹70 lakh for election purposes in a parliamentary constituency. He alleged that reporters of a private TV channel had posed as Congress workers to conduct this “sting operation”.

“They have unnecessarily brought down the reputation of a senior person such as Made Gowda. Is this news? Nothing will come out of it,” he said.