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Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president V S Koujalagi on Saturday was forced to step down following the surfacing of a video tape showing him accepting a Rs 40,000 bribe from a contractor in October 1998.
According to reports reaching the party's office in Bangalore, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had accepted Koujalagi's resignation letter.
Ambika Soni, who is in-charge of the state unit, announced in Delhi that the party high command had accepted Koujalagi's resignation.
Earlier, even as the high command was deliberating over the issue, Koujalagi continued to maintain a defiant stand despite the publication of video clippings in a local daily, showing him receiving 'a bundle of notes' amounting to Rs 40,000 from Chikkodi contractor Anil Kadam for securing contracts.
At an impromptu media briefing, held before his resignation was accepted by the party high command, Koujalagi dodged all questions about stepping down.
"I am prepared to quit if that is the wish and will of the high command. It is up to the party president," Koujalagi replied when asked by newspersons whether he had put in his papers.
Ever since the controversy broke out earlier this week, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna has maintained that he would wait for the outcome of the Lok Ayukta's investigation into the allegation against Koujalagi. The Lok Ayukta is the anti-corruption cell of the state government.
Following the publication of the video clippings, Koujalagi had shot off a letter to the Lok Ayukta requesting that the inquiry against him be expedited to put an end to the sustained tirade against him by opposition parties.
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