After BSY residence, mobiles banned in Karnataka CMO after tape leak

After banning mobile phones at his residence, now Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has prohibited mobile phones at his office, Krishna. Except for VIPs and a handful of people who will be personally cleared by the CM himself, nobody else will be allowed to carry gadgets inside the office.  This order comes just days after an explosive tape of Yediyurappa talking about nobody else including the public who come for grievance redressal, media and officers are allowed to carry their mobile phones inside.

Many within the CMO believe that the move was a knee-jerk reaction which is impractical in practice and draconian in messaging. They feel that it would not be feasible to ensure that officers and legislators can attend meetings without mobile phones.  Also in question is the security for the mobile phones which are being collected at the entrance of Krishna. With no locker system in place and a small security room used for screening, this additional task of frisking for mobile phones would be a security nightmare, the source said. 

Tightened security at CM's residence

Last week, the CM had instructed security personnel at his residence in Bengaluru that no visitor should be allowed to carry mobile phones, laptops and other recording devices inside the premises. He has also asked for arrangements that should be made to collect the gadgets before allowing anyone except a handful of people cleared by the CM.

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About the leaked clips

While Yediyurappa has ordered an internal inquiry into who leaked the video of an internal core committee meeting, highly placed sources in BJP Karnataka are pointing fingers at a deputy Chief Minister in his cabinet. The recorded clips were allegedly even sent to three media houses from his personal mobile phone. The same minister has been engaged in a power struggle with Yediyurappa, hoping to become the face for BJP’s Lingayat push. His grouse against the Chief Minister, sources say, is that he is being denied a ticket to contest in the Bypolls on December 5th. While Yediyurappa has been batting for all 15 tickets to be given to the disqualified MLAs who are awaiting the SC verdict, hoping for a favourable outcome, the BJP old-timers are already disgruntled at being sidelined in favour of those who haven't even joined the party yet.

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