CBI to probe cross-voting for RS Congress candidate

The sensational vote-for-five-crore case in Karnataka has benefited the Congress in that its candidate had won the Rajya Sabha election, but the JD(U) had lost its candidate. Prior to the election, in a sting operation an independent MLA was caught in a video boasting anyone could have his vote for Rs 5 crore. While the Election Commission first thought of postponing the election, it eventually went ahead with it. The damage was done and cross-voting did indeed take place. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda's JD(U) cross-voted and the party had to take action on eight of its MLAs. The CBI has since started its investigations. Sources say Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may also have to appear before the CBI. The CBI probe may come out with details of Congress desperation to win as many Rajya Sabha seats as possible.