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Congress Alleges 'Plot To Assassinate Mallikarjun Kharge'; BJP Denies Claims

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala played an alleged audio recording of the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, Manikanta Rathod, in which he is heard purportedly saying in Kannada that he will wipe out Kharge, his wife and children

Mallikarjun Kharge in Karnataka
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Congress general secretary and Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged on Saturday that an assassination plot has been hatched to 바카라wipe out바카라 Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife and his entire family by a BJP candidate.

The Congress leader also played an alleged audio recording of the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, Manikanta Rathod, in which he is heard purportedly saying in Kannada that he will wipe out 바카라Kharge, his wife and children바카라.

Addressing a press conference, Surjewala said, 바카라I am going to play for you an audio recording of an assassination plot to wipe out none less than the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife, and his entire family as being hatched by the BJP leaders. There can be nothing more serious than that".

He added that "the assassination plots have entered the electoral discourse of Karnataka and this was the lowest political discourse anyone can stoop to". 

바카라Intimidated by the all-round blessings of Kannadigas being showered on the Congress party and facing a complete rout in the ensuing Karnataka election, the BJP leaders are now hatching a plot to murder Sri Mallikarjun Kharge as also his family members,바카라 Surjewala alleged. He also alleged the Chittapur candidate is a 바카라blue eyed boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai바카라.

Rathod rejected the charges outright and said, 바카라It is all a lie. They are playing some fake audio. The Congress is leveling baseless allegations fearing defeat.바카라

Who is Manikanta Rathod?

BJP has fielded Manikanta Rathod from the Chittapur constituency. Before that, he was barred from entering Kalaburagi where has some criminal cases pending against him. According to media reports, Rathod has around 40 criminal cases registered against him in several districts of the state -- ranging from murder to smuggling drugs.

Last year, in a press conference, Rathod had threatened Priyank Kharge, who is the Congress candidate in Chittapur, with murder. He was arrested in November and releaser later. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Rathod had to seek special permission in order to campaign in Chittapur.

(With inputs from PTI)

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