Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, Aug 11: When there are reports of BJP trying to poach legislators from other parties with money and other promises under ‘Operation Kamala’, also called ‘Operation Lotus’, the Congress-JD(S) combine too has been trying to woo as many as 10 MLAs from the BJP, as per reports.
Following poaching attempts by the BJP, the leaders from the Congress and the JD(S) are planning to counter attack the BJP strategy and have already tried to poach 10 MLAs from the BJP, say sources.
Both the parties have held first round of talks with the BJP MLAs and if they are ready to switch sides, then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and minister D K Shivakumar would be meeting them personally.
D K Shivakumar and H D Kumaraswamy
The leaders are waiting for the reply of AICC president Rahul Gandhi and JD(S) national president Deve Gowda to carry out Operation Congress and JD(S). The operation will begin as soon as the high command gives a green signal.
Who are being poached?
The Congress-JD(S) combine have been trying to poach those MLAs joined the BJP after leaving their parties and won in the polls. Dr S Shivaraj Patil from Raichur, Gulihatti Shekhar from Hosadurga, Tippa Reddy from Chitradurga, K Shivanagowda from Devadurga, M S Somalingappa from Siraguppa, Chandrappa from Holalkere, Linganna from Mayakonda, Poornima from Hiriyur, S V Ramachandra from Jagalur and Subhash Guttedar from Alanda are the people who are in this list.
Some MLAs have been even offered ministerial berth and others have been assured of giving cabinet ranks and posts in the boards.
Out of the ten MLAs, four have been either already poached or have been approached by the JD(S) and the remaining six by the Congress.
Meanwhile, CM H D Kumaraswamy and DCM G Parameshwara, ministers D K Shivakumar and H D Revanna have been responding to the pleas of BJP MLAs. Those MLAs who maintain cordial relations, Kumaraswamy and D K Shivakumar have personally spoken to them.
If the coalition government falls, the state will have to go for polls once again. Even BJP MLAs do not want this. Hence the Congress and the JD(S) have been trying to make use of the situation and poach as many MLAs as possible.
Meanwhile, H D Revanna said, "Over 20 MLAs from the BJP are ready to join the JD(S). But we are only keeping quiet instead of poaching them. In 2008, the BJP which had 110 strength, it carried out Operation Lotus and poached MLAs from the Congress and the JD(S). We do not need such politics. If BJP MLAs join JD(S), B S Yeddyurappa will be upset. Let him be happy for few more days. Hence we have asked the BJP MLAs not to join JD(S)."