In an audiotape released by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday, February 8, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yeddyurappa can allegedly be heard telling lawmakers that BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can “manage Supreme Court judges”. Yeddyurappa even offered MLAs bribes in an attempt to coerce them to topple the JDS-Congress government in Karnataka.

EXPLOSIVE – Yeddyurappa's latest tape: ▶️ We are going to give Rs. 10 crores for now to each of 12 MLAs & they will be made Ministers. My son will pay. ▶️ Don't worry about SC. Modi and Shah will fix all judges. ▶️ Openly abuses castes of CM Kumaraswamy and Congress leaders — Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) February 8, 2019

HD Kumaraswamy: BSY has claimed that 'Amit Shah will 'book' SC as well. We will 'book' speaker also for Rs 50 cr. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis is involved.' Claims made by #Karnataka CM will have repercussions beyond the state — Pooja Prasanna (@PoojaPrasanna4) February 8, 2019

The tapes were released by Kumaraswamy in a press conference hours before the presentation of the State budget. In another clip, Yeddyurappa can be heard saying, “We are going to give Rs ten crores for now to each of 12 MLAs, and they will be made ministers. My son will pay.” Yeddyurappa also allegedly said, “We will book speaker also for Rs 50 crore. Maharashtra CM (Devendra) Fadnavis is involved.”

@BSYBJP implicates Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis in the #OperationKamalaAudioClip. He talks about offering crores and crores of rupees to bribe MLA’s, judges, the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly etc. All this has happened with the blessings of @narendramodi and @Amitshah — Dinesh Gundu Rao / ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) February 8, 2019

The Karnataka chief minister also claimed that Yeddyurappa called JDS MLA Naganagouda’s son Sharan Gouda in the early hours of Friday attempting to entice his father. “Without the knowledge of the prime minister, is it possible to do this,” he asked, adding that Modi should come clean on the issue.

He added that, “He (PM) is systemically demolishing this country’s democracy, misleading the people, I request all the Opposition parties to rise. They must expose the truth of the Prime Minister in the parliament.”

Also read: Congress-JD(S) Govt in Karnataka Stable and Strong; BJP Trying to Destabilise It: Mallikarjun Kharge

Former Karnataka chief minister said the tapes reveal BJP’s intentions.

Listen to the audio that has exposed your party's 'Niyat', Mr. @narendramodi. ಮಾಡೋದೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅನಾಚಾರ, ಮನೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಬೃಂದಾವನ Shame on You!! — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 8, 2019

After JDS and Congress formed a coalition government in Karnataka in May last year, several attempts were reportedly made by the saffron party to topple the government in the southern state. Last month, two independent Karnataka MLAs, including a recently dropped cabinet minister, quit the state government.

Also read: Karnataka: Two Independent MLAs Pull Support From Govt, BJP Shifts All Its MLAs to Gurgaon Resort

(With PTI inputs)