Mahantesh Kavatagimath, however, apologised for posting porn pictures on the WhatsApp group of ‘Belagavi Media Force’, saying it was an “unintentional act”.

“The content was posted accidentally when my phone hanged while switching off, I guess. At that time I was travelling by flight. I apologise for the incident, it was not intentional,” he told reporters.

“Why would I share porn in a group with senior politicians, government officials and journalists?” he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, refused to comment on the incident saying, “I am not aware of it.”

To a query, Kavatagimath said there will be no political fallout because of this incident, as he had already apologised.

Speaking to PTI over phone from Delhi, Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa said it could be an unintentional act of Kavatagimath, but watching porn in public places has “been in the DNA of BJP leaders”.

“It could be an unintentional act, but it is in the very DNA of BJP leaders – DNA of watching porn. BJP should add one more ‘P’ so that it reads Bharatiya Janata Porn Party,” he said.

The list is long, Kalappa said, adding that three BJP ministers were caught watching pornography in the Assembly during the party’s rule in Karnataka.

In 2012, C C Patil, Lakshmana Savadi and Krishna Palemar, were caught while allegedly watching pornography in the Assembly, which forced them to tender resignations after the BJP central leadership asked them to quit.

A few months ago, Congress Minister H Y Meti was asked to quit after a video clipping surfaced purportedly depicting him in a compromising position with a woman inside a taluk panchayat office.

(Feature image is representational | Source: Reuters)