Horse-trading charges fly in K’taka
Yeddy says not in touch with any Cong MLAS and is ready to function as a “sincere” opposition
NEW DELHI: Alleging that the ruling Jd(s)-congress coalition was trying to lure its MLAS in Karnataka, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Monday said its 104 legislators are “united” and will camp in the national capital.
Yeddyurappa assertion comes hours after Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy stuck to his allegation that the BJP was trying to lure MLAS of the ruling combine and expressed confidence that none of them would switch sides.
“It is not us, but they (Jds-congress) who have started horse trading. We will stay in Delhi one or two days because Kumaraswamy is trying his level best to contact our MLAS and horse-trading has started,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting state BJP MLAS and MPS here.
The BJP is “alert and careful” as the chief minister is trying to lure our MLAS using “power and money”, he said.
NEW DELHI: Even after eight months, the Jd(s)-congress' lastminute manoeuvre that toppled BJP government from the throne in two days has not been taken lightly by the saffron party.
Since last few months, BJP has allegedly launched ‘Operation Lotus' and that trouble has landed to the national capital this week.
Both the combined ruling parties in the state are claiming that Bharatiya Janata Party is in touch with their few lawmakers.
Three Congress MLAS are missing and said to be stationed in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy claimed that the MLAS are in touch with him and had gone with his permission.
Asked about Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar's claim that three Congress MLAS were camping at a hotel in Mumbai in the “company of some BJP leaders”, Kumaraswamy said, they were in constant touch with him.
Not revealing their names, he said “They are my friends. Those MLAS in Mumbai or 104 BJP MLAS who are in Delhi are all my people, so there is no question of instability to this government.”
“(The Congress) MLAS have gone to Mumbai after bringing it to my notice; they are in constant touch with me,” the chief minister said. “I spoke to them at 7:30 in the morning. They have gone for personal reasons, and there is no need to add politics to it,” Kumaraswamy said. “If my government is facing instability, is it possible for me to be at ease?” he asked.
Shivakumar had on Sunday said the BJP'S ‘Operation Lotus' was for real, alleging that three Congress MLAS were camping in a Mumbai hotel. He had said the chief minister was being “lenient” towards the BJP, by not exposing it.
“BJP members have gone for their executive meeting and to plan a strategy for Lok Sabha polls to win more seats. What should I do if their meeting is being seen as a threat to this government?” the chief minister asked.
Even the deputy chief minister from Congress, G Parameshwara, cleared that the horse-trading would be a failed attempt by opposition BJP and the incumbent government will continue to power.
The anti-defection laws are applicable, and if R Shankar (KPJP), H Nagesh (Independent) and N Mahesh (BSP) resign, then the strength of the house is brought down to 213. For this to happen, the BJP needs 12 MLAS to defect either from the Congress or the JD(S). The political experts also do not see this as hunky-dory.
Hitting back, Yeddyurappa told reporters in New Delhi, “despite having majority, Congress-jd(s) combine is trying to lure our MLAS and indulging in horse-trading, BJP is not doing it. We with 104 MLAS are ready to work as opposition peacefully.”
Accusing the Congress-jd(s) coalition of trying to create confusion, he asked it to focus on developmental works and said BJP was ready to function as a “sincere” opposition.
“They are trying to lure our people with money and Minister's position. We have not done this to any Congress-jd(s) MLAS. Kumaraswamy is doing it,” he added.
Yeddyurappa said the BJP legislators would be in New Delhi for “one or two days” and would later go to their constituencies and begin preparations for the Lok Sabha polls in all the 28 constituencies.
Reports suggest that BJP legislators in Delhi were likely to be shifted to Gurgaon, to keep its numbers in tact, with Congress and JD(S) allegedly planning to poach BJP MLAS as a retaliatory measure to Operation lotus. Sources also said few Congress MLAS are also stationed in ITC, Grand Bharat, Gurgaon.
However, Yeddyurappa clarified, “There is no need for us to do any “resort politics”, we are not doing also”, he said, adding that “a few of them will be in Delhi, a few are going to Gurgaon, they will go and come back. Sources said that the party top brass prefers to focus on the impending general election in a few months.
But, Yeddyurappa has other ideas as he is going to complete 75 years in February this year and as per the organisation rules, he cannot repeat in the power after that, experts claimed.