BANGALORE: Karnataka is no stranger to sex scandals involving politicians which surface almost on a regular basis, spicing up space in the electronic and print media.
The alleged sexcapades of former BJP ministers Haratal Halappa and Renukacharya and now, voyeurism of ministers Laxman Savadi, C C Patil and Krishna Palemar has only battered the reputation of BJP which claims to be a "party with a difference".
In 2010, former Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Hartal Halappa and a close aide of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, resigned after a newspaper published an article that alleged he had sexually assaulted his friend's wife.
Venkateshmurthy, a Shimoga resident, reportedly recorded visuals of Halappa attempting to rape his wife when he stayed with the couple for the night on a visit to the district.
Halappa not only blamed the rival Reddy brothers-led camp but also pointed fingers at old mentor, the late S Bangarappa.
When Congress raised a hue and cry over the scandal, state party President K S Eshwarappa rebutted the Opposition's demands, dragging in former Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari's name.
Besides Halappa, there are other Karnataka politicians who have faced the wrath of general public for their sexcapades.
One is Excise Minister M P Renukacharya, another close Yeddyurappa aide, who faced many legal cases after nurse- turned-entreprenuer L A Jayalakshmi charged him with issuing death threats after papers splashed pictures of their intimate relations.
Married with two children, Renukacharya had met her while working in Bapuji Ayurvedic Medical College in Shimoga more than a decade ago. They had an affair but fell apart later over business issues of the nursing college they started jointly.
However, Renukacharya was promoted as minister by Yeddyurappa to save his wobbly government then.
Other three key Yeddyurappa aides - Savadi, Patil and Palemar - kicked up a row when they allegedly watched porno clippings on mobile phones during assembly proceedings yesterday.
The issue snowballed into a major controversy forcing BJP central leadership to ask them to step down to save the scam- scarred government.