Bangalore: The ruling Congress in Karnataka today (Feb 27, 2004) charged that the Centre was tapping the telephones of Chief Minister S M Krishna and 60 other leaders in the State and threatened to take legal action.

Speaking to reporters, former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, who heads the manifesto committee, and Congress State unit spokesman V S Ugrappa alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have resorted to telephone tapping to keep a watch on the poll strategies of the party.

The telephones of Krishna, his personal staff, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B Janardhana Poojary and other leaders were being bugged at the instance of the Centre, they charged.

When asked what legal action the party was contemplating, Moily refused to divulge, but hastened to add that the party would make this an election issue in the State.

The Congress and principal Opposition BJP have virtually locked horns and been competing with each other on luring leaders of All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD).

While a majority of AIPJD legislators have crossed over to Congress, some have aligned with BJP.

Some second line leaders of AIPJD have also favoured JDS headed by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda.